Compare towns
Calais vs Putnam vs Marshfield
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%).
Putnam has the oldest population (median age 53.6).
Marshfield has the most affordable homes ($214k 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 | Putnam | Marshfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,713 |
540Lowest |
1,863Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42±8.6 8% above U.S. |
53.6±6.4Highest 38% above U.S. |
38.7±6.1Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Putnam and Calais 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% |
17.4%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24.2%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Marshfield 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% |
35.6%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
38.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Calais and Putnam 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. |
$92,344±$14k 14% above U.S. |
$60,313±$10kLowest 25% below U.S. |
| Calais and Putnam 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. |
$266,200±$48k 20% below U.S. |
$214,100±$37kLowest 36% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,408±$392Highest about the U.S. average |
— | $1,317±$126Lowest 7% below U.S. |
| Calais and Marshfield 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. |
$3,674 18% above U.S. |
$3,668Lowest 18% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49%±38.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
65.7%±73.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Marshfield 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% |
7.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 19% below U.S. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.4%±7.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.6%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.5%±7.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Marshfield 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 | PUTNAM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | — |
| 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.


