Compare towns

Calais vs Walpole vs Worcester 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 most homeowners (92.4%).
Walpole has the shortest commute (23 min average).
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k median).
Barnard has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).

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.

MeasureCalaisWalpoleWorcesterBarnard
People
Population
1,713
3,690Highest
831Lowest
1,211
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+3.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
-2.7%
U.S.: +7.4%
-3.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+4.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
42±8.6Lowest
8% above U.S.
46.5±10.4
20% above U.S.
47±2.7Highest
21% above U.S.
42.4±6
9% above U.S.
Worcester and Walpole 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%
22.2%±5.2
U.S.: 22%
12.8%±3.9Lowest
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%±5.4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.5%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
22%±3.6
U.S.: 17.2%
Walpole 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%
32.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
53%
U.S.: 35.7%
55.3%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
7.4%±3.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4%±2.8
U.S.: 6.4%
6.9%±4.7
U.S.: 6.4%
2.4%±1.8Lowest
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.
$82,617±$16k
about the U.S. average
$73,833±$18kLowest
9% below U.S.
$97,581±$19k
21% above U.S.
Calais and Barnard 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.
$319,800±$48k
4% below U.S.
$271,100±$27kLowest
19% below U.S.
$402,600±$71kHighest
21% above U.S.
Barnard 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
$1,165±$150
18% below U.S.
$1,023±$136Lowest
28% below U.S.
$1,372±$80
about the U.S. average
Calais and Barnard 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.
$6,078
95% above U.S.
$4,421Lowest
42% above U.S.
$6,038
94% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
49%±38.3
U.S.: 51.1%
51.6%±21.9Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
25.5%±37Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
27%±19.8
U.S.: 51.1%
Walpole 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%
11.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
5.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
2.6%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
92.4%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
69.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
85.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
85.4%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1976Highest
4 yrs older than U.S.
1967Lowest
13 yrs older than U.S.
1976Highest
4 yrs older than U.S.
1971
9 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
31 minHighest
18% above U.S.
23 minLowest
13% below U.S.
29 min
9% above U.S.
29 min
8% above U.S.
Work from home
23.4%±7.1
U.S.: 15.1%
7.2%±4.9Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
23.6%±4.8Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
19.3%±10.8
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 — #27 of 120 in NH — —
School district Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 Fall Mountain Regional School District 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.