Compare towns
Calais vs Pelham vs Worcester 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 most homeowners (92.4%).
Pelham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.3%).
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k median).
Barnard has the most kids (26.9% under 18).
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 | Pelham | Worcester | Barnard |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,713 |
14,449Highest |
831Lowest |
1,211 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42±8.6 8% above U.S. |
41.5±2.7Lowest 7% above U.S. |
47±2.7Highest 21% above U.S. |
42.4±6 9% above U.S. |
| Worcester and Barnard 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% |
22%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest 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% |
16.5%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
22%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Barnard 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% |
40%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53% U.S.: 35.7% |
55.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±4.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.8Lowest 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. |
$135,956±$19kHighest 68% above U.S. |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$97,581±$19k 21% above U.S. |
| Pelham 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. |
$552,600±$27kHighest 66% above U.S. |
$271,100±$27kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$402,600±$71k 21% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,408±$392 about the U.S. average |
$1,425±$88Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,023±$136Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,372±$80 about the U.S. average |
| Pelham 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. |
$8,634Highest 177% above U.S. |
$4,421Lowest 42% above U.S. |
$6,038 94% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49%±38.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.3%±12.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
25.5%±37Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
27%±19.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pelham and Calais 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% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.4%±7.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.3%±10.8Lowest 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 | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #48 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Pelham School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 |
| High school in town | None in town | Pelham High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.4 |
— | — |
| 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.