Compare towns
Calais vs Worcester vs Middlesex vs Marshfield
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 expensive homes ($390k median).
Worcester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.1%).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Marshfield has the most affordable homes ($214k 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 | Worcester | Middlesex | Marshfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,713Lowest |
207,055Highest |
1,943 |
1,863 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42±8.6 8% above U.S. |
33.9±0.5Lowest 13% below U.S. |
44.4±3.9Highest 14% above U.S. |
38.7±6.1 about the U.S. average |
| Middlesex 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%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
24.2%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Marshfield 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% |
13.3%±0.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.8%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Calais and Middlesex 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% |
35.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
38.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.4%±3.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
14.1%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $100,625±$27k 25% above U.S. |
$70,102±$2k 13% below U.S. |
$109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S. |
$60,313±$10kLowest 25% below U.S. |
| Middlesex and Calais 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. |
$374,400±$7k 13% above U.S. |
$376,300±$40k 13% above U.S. |
$214,100±$37kLowest 36% below U.S. |
| Calais and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,408±$392 about the U.S. average |
$1,487±$38Highest 5% above U.S. |
$1,333±$359 6% below U.S. |
$1,317±$126Lowest 7% below U.S. |
| Worcester and Calais 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. |
$4,733 52% above U.S. |
$6,483 108% above U.S. |
$3,668Lowest 18% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49%±38.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
54.2%±2.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
65.7%±73.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Marshfield and Worcester 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% |
19.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
42.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1951Lowest 29 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.4%±7.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.5%±7.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex and Marshfield 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 | — | #266 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | South High Community | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.6 |
— | — |
| 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.