What stands out worked out from the figures below

Mason has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).

Calais has the shortest commute (31 min average).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Mason	Calais
People
Population	1,451Lowest	1,713Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	43.7±2.3Highest 12% above U.S.	42±8.6Lowest 8% above U.S.
	Mason and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	28.8%±6.3Highest U.S.: 22%	22.5%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Mason and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	15.6%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	21.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Calais and Mason are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	39.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	55.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	7.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$111,090±$3kHighest 38% above U.S.	$100,625±$27kLowest 25% above U.S.
	Mason and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$384,000±$21kLowest 15% above U.S.	$390,300±$36kHighest 17% above U.S.
	Calais and Mason are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,530±$852Highest 79% above U.S.	$1,408±$392Lowest about the U.S. average
	Mason and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,049Highest 126% above U.S.	$6,586Lowest 111% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	87.2%±42.4Highest U.S.: 51.1%	49%±38.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Mason and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	8.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	90.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	92.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S.	1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	41 minHighest 55% above U.S.	31 minLowest 18% above U.S.
Work from home	20.7%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	23.4%±7.1Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Calais and Mason are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Mason School District	Washington Central Unified Union School District #92
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.