Compare towns

Cornish vs Westford vs Calais

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Cornish has the most affordable homes ($296k median).
Westford has the highest household income ($113k).
Calais has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.4%).

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.

MeasureCornishWestfordCalais
People
Population
1,816
2,290Highest
1,713Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-1.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+1.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
+3.4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
54±8.3Highest
39% above U.S.
44.1±8.6
13% above U.S.
42±8.6Lowest
8% above U.S.
Cornish and Westford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
14.4%±3.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
16.9%±4.6
U.S.: 22%
22.5%±5.4Highest
U.S.: 22%
Calais and Westford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
27.3%±4.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
17.2%±3.2Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
21.6%±5.2
U.S.: 17.2%
Cornish and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
40.6%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
52.3%
U.S.: 35.7%
55.4%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.4%±0.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
9.5%±4.6Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
7.4%±3.4
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
$91,821±$2kLowest
14% above U.S.
$112,750±$12kHighest
40% above U.S.
$100,625±$27k
25% above U.S.
Westford and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$296,000±$69kLowest
11% below U.S.
$424,500±$21kHighest
28% above U.S.
$390,300±$36k
17% above U.S.
Westford and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,221±$227Lowest
14% below U.S.
$2,375±$1kHighest
68% above U.S.
$1,408±$392
about the U.S. average
Westford and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,796Lowest
86% above U.S.
$6,282
101% above U.S.
$6,586Highest
111% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
40.5%±38.1
U.S.: 51.1%
29.8%±31Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
49%±38.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Calais and Cornish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
4.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
2.5%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.8%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
94.1%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
86.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
92.4%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1980
same as U.S.
1982Highest
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1976Lowest
4 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 minLowest
8% below U.S.
33 minHighest
26% above U.S.
31 min
18% above U.S.
Work from home
12%±4.1Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
19.1%±6.9
U.S.: 15.1%
23.4%±7.1Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Calais and Westford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district Cornish School District Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51 Washington Central Unified Union School District #92
High school in town None in town None in town None in town
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.