Compare towns
Calais vs Webster vs Barnard vs Middlesex
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 youngest population (median age 42).
Webster has the most affordable homes ($339k median).
Barnard has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
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 | Barnard | Middlesex |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,713 |
2,227Highest |
1,211Lowest |
1,943 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42±8.6Lowest 8% above U.S. |
44.7±7.6Highest 15% above U.S. |
42.4±6 9% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
| Webster and Middlesex 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% |
22.6%±8 U.S.: 22% |
26.9%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Barnard and Webster 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% |
19.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7 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% |
30.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Calais and Middlesex 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. |
$107,171±$14k 33% above U.S. |
$97,581±$19kLowest 21% above U.S. |
$109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S. |
| Middlesex and Webster 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. |
$338,500±$30kLowest about the U.S. average |
$402,600±$71kHighest 21% above U.S. |
$376,300±$40k 13% 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 |
$1,396±$622 about the U.S. average |
$1,372±$80 about the U.S. average |
$1,333±$359Lowest 6% 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. |
$6,021Lowest 93% above U.S. |
$6,038 94% above U.S. |
$6,483 108% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49%±38.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
53.6%±71Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
27%±19.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Webster 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% |
9.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
96% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
29 min 8% above U.S. |
27 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.4%±7.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.1%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.3%±10.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex 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 | Merrimack Valley School District | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| 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.