Compare towns

Hancock vs Calais 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

Hancock has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.7%).
Calais has the most kids (22.5% under 18).
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.

MeasureHancockCalaisMiddlesex
People
Population
1,791
1,713Lowest
1,943Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+4.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+3.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.8%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
53.8±4.5Highest
38% above U.S.
42±8.6Lowest
8% above U.S.
44.4±3.9
14% above U.S.
Kids under 18
15.4%±2.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
22.5%±5.4Highest
U.S.: 22%
21.3%±3.1
U.S.: 22%
Calais and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
30.2%±2.7Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
21.6%±5.2
U.S.: 17.2%
20.6%±3.7Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
53.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
55.4%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
54.7%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4%±1.6Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
7.4%±3.4Highest
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
$95,208±$15kLowest
18% above U.S.
$100,625±$27k
25% above U.S.
$109,632±$13kHighest
36% above 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
$436,700±$22kHighest
31% above U.S.
$390,300±$36k
17% above U.S.
$376,300±$40kLowest
13% above U.S.
Hancock and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,208±$650Lowest
15% below U.S.
$1,408±$392Highest
about the U.S. average
$1,333±$359
6% below U.S.
Calais and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,884Highest
121% above U.S.
$6,586
111% above U.S.
$6,483Lowest
108% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
32.4%±55.6
U.S.: 51.1%
49%±38.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Calais and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
4.1%
U.S.: 12.5%
8.8%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.8%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
85.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
92.4%
U.S.: 65.2%
96.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1969Lowest
11 yrs older than U.S.
1976
4 yrs older than U.S.
1986Highest
6 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
33 minHighest
25% above U.S.
31 min
18% above U.S.
27 minLowest
4% above U.S.
Work from home
14.9%±3.2Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
23.4%±7.1
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 Contoocook Valley School District Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 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.