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.

MeasureCalaisPutnamMarshfield
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.