Compare towns
Calais vs Salisbury vs Middlesex 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 youngest population (median age 42).
Salisbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.5%).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
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 | Salisbury | Middlesex | Barnard |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,713 |
9,281Highest |
1,943 |
1,211Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42±8.6Lowest 8% above U.S. |
51.3±3.5Highest 32% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
42.4±6 9% above U.S. |
| Salisbury and Middlesex 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% |
13.1%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1 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% |
25.5%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Salisbury and Barnard 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% |
43.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
55.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Calais and Middlesex 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. |
$93,361±$6kLowest 16% above U.S. |
$109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S. |
$97,581±$19k 21% above U.S. |
| Middlesex 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. |
$478,700±$27kHighest 44% above U.S. |
$376,300±$40kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$402,600±$71k 21% above U.S. |
| Salisbury and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,408±$392 about the U.S. average |
$1,691±$411Highest 20% above U.S. |
$1,333±$359Lowest 6% below U.S. |
$1,372±$80 about the U.S. average |
| Salisbury 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. |
$4,604Lowest 48% above U.S. |
$6,483 108% above U.S. |
$6,038 94% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49%±38.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
61.9%±11.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
27%±19.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Salisbury 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% |
5% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
27 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
29 min 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.4%±7.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.3%±10.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex 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 | — | #240 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Triton | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.