Compare towns
Calais vs Saco 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 the most kids (22.5% under 18).
Saco has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.3%).
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k 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 | Saco | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,713 |
20,819Highest |
831Lowest |
| 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% |
| Median age | 42±8.6Lowest 8% above U.S. |
44.9±1.5 15% above U.S. |
47±2.7Highest 21% above U.S. |
| Worcester and Saco 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% |
16.7%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Calais and Saco 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% |
18.5%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Calais and Worcester 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% |
43.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±1.2Lowest 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. |
$92,241±$11k 14% above U.S. |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below U.S. |
| Calais and Saco 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. |
$413,100±$17kHighest 24% above U.S. |
$271,100±$27kLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Saco and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,408±$392Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,249±$385 12% below U.S. |
$1,023±$136Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| Calais and Saco 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. |
$4,807 54% above U.S. |
$4,421Lowest 42% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49%±38.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.3%±14Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
25.5%±37Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Saco 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% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.4%±7.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.6Lowest 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 | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #38 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Saco Public Schools | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None 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.