Compare towns
Calais vs Middlesex vs Sharon vs Worcester
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%).
Sharon has the most expensive homes ($476k median).
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k 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 | Middlesex | Sharon | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,713 |
1,943Highest |
442Lowest |
831 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42±8.6Lowest 8% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
49.4±11.2Highest 27% above U.S. |
47±2.7 21% above U.S. |
| Sharon and Worcester 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% |
21.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
22.4%±8.6 U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Calais and Sharon 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%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
31.4%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sharon 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% |
54.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
41.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53% 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% |
1.6%±3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±4.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Calais and Worcester 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. |
$113,125±$19kHighest 40% above U.S. |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below U.S. |
| Sharon 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±$40k 13% above U.S. |
$475,900±$38kHighest 43% above U.S. |
$271,100±$27kLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,408±$392 about the U.S. average |
$1,333±$359 6% below U.S. |
$1,458±$1kHighest 3% above U.S. |
$1,023±$136Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| Sharon and Calais 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. |
$8,274Highest 165% above U.S. |
$4,421Lowest 42% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49%±38.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
28.6%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
25.5%±37 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Calais and Sharon 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% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9% 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% |
85.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 18% above U.S. |
27 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 21% above U.S. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.4%±7.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.2%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex and Worcester 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 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school 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.