Compare towns
Calais vs Middlesex vs Plympton vs Barnard
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 youngest population (median age 42).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Plympton has the most expensive homes ($518k median).
Barnard has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).
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 | Middlesex | Plympton | Barnard |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,713 |
1,943 |
2,935Highest |
1,211Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42±8.6Lowest 8% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
46.4±4.2Highest 19% above U.S. |
42.4±6 9% above U.S. |
| Plympton and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.5%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.6%±5 U.S.: 22% |
26.9%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Barnard and Calais 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% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.7%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Plympton and Barnard 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% |
54.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
38.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.8Lowest 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. |
$109,632±$13k 36% above U.S. |
$126,736±$20kHighest 57% above U.S. |
$97,581±$19kLowest 21% above U.S. |
| Plympton and Middlesex 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. |
$376,300±$40kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$517,800±$52kHighest 56% above U.S. |
$402,600±$71k 21% above U.S. |
| Plympton and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,408±$392Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,333±$359 6% below U.S. |
$555±$148Lowest 61% below U.S. |
$1,372±$80 about the U.S. average |
| Calais and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,586 111% above U.S. |
$6,483 108% above U.S. |
$6,628Highest 113% above U.S. |
$6,038Lowest 94% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49%±38.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.8%±40.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
27%±19.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Plympton and Calais 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% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 18% above U.S. |
27 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
29 min 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.4%±7.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.3%±6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.3%±10.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex and Calais 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 | — | — | #110 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Plympton | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.