Compare towns
Calais vs Townsend vs Worcester vs Elmore
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Townsend has the highest household income ($122k).
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k median).
Elmore has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.6%).
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 | Townsend | Worcester | Elmore |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,713 |
9,100Highest |
831Lowest |
964 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42±8.6 8% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
47±2.7Highest 21% above U.S. |
45±3.5 16% above U.S. |
| Worcester and Elmore 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% |
21%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±9.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Elmore and Calais 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% |
17.1%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.6%±2.6Lowest 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% |
35.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53% U.S.: 35.7% |
47.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±4.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest 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±$27k 25% above U.S. |
$121,528±$23kHighest 51% above U.S. |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$98,750±$24k 22% above U.S. |
| Townsend 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. |
$433,200±$22kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$271,100±$27kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$315,800±$47k 5% below U.S. |
| Townsend and Calais 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 |
$1,469±$313Highest 4% above U.S. |
$1,023±$136Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,225±$263 13% below U.S. |
| Townsend 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. |
$6,031 93% above U.S. |
$4,421Lowest 42% above U.S. |
$5,066 62% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49%±38.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
25.5%±37Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±65.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Townsend 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% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
82%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 18% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 9% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.4%±7.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.4%±4.3Lowest 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 | — | #136 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | North Middlesex | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Elmore-Morristown Unified Union School District #90 |
| High school in town | None in town | North Middlesex Regional | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.1 |
— | — |
| 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.