Compare towns
Calais vs Windham vs Westford
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 affordable homes ($390k median).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
Westford has the most renters (13.9% rent).
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 | Windham | Westford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,713Lowest |
16,038Highest |
2,290 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42±8.6 8% above U.S. |
41.1±2.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
44.1±8.6Highest 13% above U.S. |
| Westford 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% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Windham 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% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Calais and Westford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.4%±3.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
9.5%±4.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Westford and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $100,625±$27kLowest 25% above U.S. |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
$112,750±$12k 40% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $390,300±$36kLowest 17% above U.S. |
$723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$424,500±$21k 28% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,408±$392Lowest about the U.S. average |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$2,375±$1k 68% above U.S. |
| Windham and Westford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,586 111% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,282Lowest 101% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49%±38.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
29.8%±31Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windham and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 18% above U.S. |
31 minLowest 17% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.4%±7.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.1%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Calais and Windham 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 | — | #13 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Windham School District | Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51 |
| High school in town | None in town | Windham High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.