Compare towns
Calais vs Painted Post 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.4%).
Painted Post has the most affordable homes ($156k median).
Worcester has the oldest population (median age 47).
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 | Painted Post | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,713 |
1,824Highest |
831Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42±8.6Lowest 8% above U.S. |
45.7±5.2 17% above U.S. |
47±2.7Highest 21% above U.S. |
| Worcester and Painted Post 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% |
16.3%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Calais and Painted Post are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.3%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Calais and Painted Post 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% |
36.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±2.4Lowest 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±$27kHighest 25% above U.S. |
$62,891±$14kLowest 22% below U.S. |
$73,833±$18k 9% below U.S. |
| Calais and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $390,300±$36kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$155,900±$13kLowest 53% below U.S. |
$271,100±$27k 19% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,408±$392Highest about the U.S. average |
$839±$281Lowest 41% below U.S. |
$1,023±$136 28% below U.S. |
| Calais and Worcester 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. |
$5,442 74% above U.S. |
$4,421Lowest 42% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49%±38.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
63.4%±18.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
25.5%±37Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Painted Post 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% |
12.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
63.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1946Lowest 34 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
17 minLowest 37% below U.S. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.4%±7.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.8%±8.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Worcester 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 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| 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.