Compare towns

Calais vs Webster 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 people working from home (23.4%).
Webster has the most renters (40.2% rent).
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.

MeasureCalaisWebsterBarnard
People
Population
1,713
17,748Highest
1,211Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+3.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+6%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+4.8%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
42±8.6
8% above U.S.
39.9±2.9Lowest
about the U.S. average
42.4±6Highest
9% above U.S.
Barnard and Calais 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%
19.6%±2.9Lowest
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%
19.6%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
22%±3.6Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Barnard and Calais 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%
25.3%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
55.3%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
7.4%±3.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.8%±1.6
U.S.: 6.4%
2.4%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Calais and Webster 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.
$72,895±$6kLowest
10% 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.
$361,500±$12kLowest
9% above 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
$1,228±$81Lowest
13% 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.
$3,999Lowest
28% above U.S.
$6,038
94% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
49%±38.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
45.7%±6.7
U.S.: 51.1%
27%±19.8Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Calais and Webster 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%
12.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
2.6%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
92.4%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
59.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
85.4%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1976Highest
4 yrs older than U.S.
1962Lowest
18 yrs older than U.S.
1971
9 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
31 minHighest
18% above U.S.
31 min
16% above U.S.
29 minLowest
8% above U.S.
Work from home
23.4%±7.1Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
8%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
19.3%±10.8
U.S.: 15.1%
Calais and Barnard 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 — #271 of 282 in MA —
School district Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 Webster Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76
High school in town None in town Bartlett High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
11.6
—
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.