Compare towns
Calais vs Meredith vs Middlesex
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 the most kids (22.5% under 18).
Meredith has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.7%).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
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 | Meredith | Middlesex |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,713Lowest |
6,758Highest |
1,943 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42±8.6Lowest 8% above U.S. |
55.5±3.7Highest 43% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 22.5%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Calais and Middlesex 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% |
34.2%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Calais and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $100,625±$27k 25% above U.S. |
$87,019±$19kLowest 8% above U.S. |
$109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S. |
| Middlesex and Calais 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. |
$480,100±$48kHighest 44% above U.S. |
$376,300±$40kLowest 13% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,408±$392Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,149±$304Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,333±$359 6% below U.S. |
| Calais and Middlesex 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. |
$5,006Lowest 61% above U.S. |
$6,483 108% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49%±38.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.5%±9.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Calais and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.4%±7.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.7%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #62 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None in town | Inter-Lakes High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
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.