Compare towns
Calais vs Marlow vs Westford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Calais has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.4%).
Marlow has the oldest population (median age 52.8).
Westford has the most expensive homes ($425k median).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Calais | Marlow | Westford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,713 |
855Lowest |
2,290Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42±8.6Lowest 8% above U.S. |
52.8±11.7Highest 36% above U.S. |
44.1±8.6 13% above U.S. |
| Marlow and Westford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.5%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±6.3 U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Calais and Marlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.6%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±5.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Marlow and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.4%±3.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
9.5%±4.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Westford and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $100,625±$27kLowest 25% above U.S. |
$110,455±$12k 37% above U.S. |
$112,750±$12kHighest 40% above U.S. |
| Westford and Marlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $390,300±$36k 17% above U.S. |
$325,400±$49kLowest about the U.S. average |
$424,500±$21kHighest 28% above U.S. |
| Westford and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,408±$392 about the U.S. average |
$1,154±$160Lowest 18% below U.S. |
$2,375±$1kHighest 68% above U.S. |
| Westford and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,586Highest 111% above U.S. |
$5,826Lowest 87% above U.S. |
$6,282 101% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49%±38.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
18.2%±95.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
29.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Calais and Westford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 18% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 33% above U.S. |
33 min 26% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.4%±7.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.1%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Calais and Westford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Marlow School District | Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 4 photos → | 6 photos → |
U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.