Compare towns
Calais vs Peru 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%).
Peru has the most affordable homes ($267k median).
Westford has the highest household income ($113k).
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 | Peru | Westford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,713 |
630Lowest |
2,290Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42±8.6Lowest 8% above U.S. |
52.6±4.8Highest 35% above U.S. |
44.1±8.6 13% above U.S. |
| Peru and Westford 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%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Calais and Westford 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% |
29.7%±6.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Peru 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% |
28%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.4%±3.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±2Lowest 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. |
$90,750±$18kLowest 12% above U.S. |
$112,750±$12kHighest 40% above U.S. |
| Westford 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. |
$267,400±$15kLowest 20% 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±$392Lowest about the U.S. average |
— | $2,375±$1kHighest 68% above U.S. |
| Westford and Calais 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. |
$3,805Lowest 22% 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% |
29.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Calais and Westford 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% |
3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
98.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 18% above U.S. |
31 min 18% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.4%±7.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.3%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.1%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Calais and Westford 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 | — | Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 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.