Compare towns
Calais vs Temple 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.4%).
Temple has the oldest population (median age 49.5).
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 | Temple | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,713Highest |
1,363 |
831Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42±8.6Lowest 8% above U.S. |
49.5±7.3Highest 27% above U.S. |
47±2.7 21% above U.S. |
| Temple and Worcester 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% |
14.3%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Calais and Temple 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% |
17.8%±2.8Lowest 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% |
36.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.7%±1.1Lowest 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. |
$94,107±$15k 17% above U.S. |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below U.S. |
| Calais and Temple 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. |
$401,000±$27kHighest 21% above U.S. |
$271,100±$27kLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Temple 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 |
$1,169±$523 17% below U.S. |
$1,023±$136Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| Calais and Temple are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,586 111% above U.S. |
$6,983Highest 124% above U.S. |
$4,421Lowest 42% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49%±38.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.2%±54.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
25.5%±37Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Calais and Temple 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% |
9.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.2%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 min 18% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 39% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 9% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.4%±7.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±5.6Lowest 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 | |||
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Contoocook Valley School District | 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.