Compare towns
Calais vs Webster 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 the highest household income ($101k).
Webster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
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 | Webster | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,713 |
17,748Highest |
831Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42±8.6 8% above U.S. |
39.9±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
47±2.7Highest 21% above U.S. |
| Worcester and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.5%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Calais and Webster 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% |
19.6%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Calais and Webster 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% |
53% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±1.6Lowest 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. |
$72,895±$6kLowest 10% below U.S. |
$73,833±$18k 9% below U.S. |
| Calais and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $390,300±$36kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$361,500±$12k 9% above U.S. |
$271,100±$27kLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Calais and Webster 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±$81 13% below U.S. |
$1,023±$136Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| Calais and Webster 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. |
$4,421 42% 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% |
25.5%±37Lowest 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% |
5.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 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 9% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.4%±7.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
8%±2.5Lowest 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 | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #271 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Webster | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| 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.