Compare towns
Calais vs Middlesex vs Unity 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%).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Unity has the oldest population (median age 58).
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 | Middlesex | Unity | Westford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,713 |
1,943 |
1,375Lowest |
2,290Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-9.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42±8.6Lowest 8% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
58±4.5Highest 49% above U.S. |
44.1±8.6 13% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 22.5%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
12%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±4.6 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% |
20.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
34.9%±7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
21.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.4%±3.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.7Lowest 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±$27k 25% above U.S. |
$109,632±$13k 36% above U.S. |
$87,500±$16kLowest 8% above U.S. |
$112,750±$12kHighest 40% above U.S. |
| Westford 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. |
$276,100±$29kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$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 |
$1,333±$359Lowest 6% below U.S. |
$1,625±$804 15% above U.S. |
$2,375±$1kHighest 68% above U.S. |
| Westford and Unity 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. |
$6,483 108% above U.S. |
$5,394Lowest 73% above U.S. |
$6,282 101% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49%±38.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
29.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Calais and Unity 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 18% above U.S. |
27 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 32% above U.S. |
33 min 26% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.4%±7.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.1%±6.9 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 | ||||
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Unity School District | Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51 |
| 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 | 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.