What stands out worked out from the figures below

Meredith has the most affordable homes ($231k median).

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.

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

Measure	Meredith	Calais
People
Population	1,467Lowest	1,713Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+3.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	54.3±4.6Highest 40% above U.S.	42±8.6Lowest 8% above U.S.
	Meredith and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	17%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22%	22.5%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22%
	Calais and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	30.8%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2%	21.6%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Meredith and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	33.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	55.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.4%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	7.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$85,938±$16kLowest 6% above U.S.	$100,625±$27kHighest 25% above U.S.
	Calais and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$230,600±$24kLowest 31% below U.S.	$390,300±$36kHighest 17% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$794±$175Lowest 44% below U.S.	$1,408±$392Highest about the U.S. average
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,630Lowest 16% above U.S.	$6,586Highest 111% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	53.1%±53.6Highest U.S.: 51.1%	49%±38.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Meredith and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	8.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	92.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	92.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976 4 yrs older than U.S.	1976 4 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 23% above U.S.	31 minLowest 18% above U.S.
Work from home	10.1%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	23.4%±7.1Highest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
School district	—	Washington Central Unified Union School District #92
High school 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.