Compare towns

Middlesex vs Alstead 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

Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Alstead has the most affordable homes ($272k 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.

MeasureMiddlesexAlsteadCalais
People
Population
1,943Highest
1,551Lowest
1,713
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2.8%
U.S.: +7.4%
-3.8%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+3.4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
44.4±3.9
14% above U.S.
56±3.3Highest
44% above U.S.
42±8.6Lowest
8% above U.S.
Kids under 18
21.3%±3.1
U.S.: 22%
12.3%±3.1Lowest
U.S.: 22%
22.5%±5.4Highest
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+
20.6%±3.7Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
27.8%±4.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
21.6%±5.2
U.S.: 17.2%
Alstead and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
54.7%
U.S.: 35.7%
28.3%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
55.4%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.2%±2.6
U.S.: 6.4%
3.4%±2.6Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
7.4%±3.4Highest
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
$109,632±$13kHighest
36% above U.S.
$64,526±$11kLowest
20% below U.S.
$100,625±$27k
25% 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
$376,300±$40k
13% above U.S.
$271,600±$37kLowest
18% below U.S.
$390,300±$36kHighest
17% above 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
$1,333±$359Lowest
6% below U.S.
—
$1,408±$392Highest
about the U.S. average
Calais and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,483
108% above U.S.
$5,322Lowest
71% above U.S.
$6,586Highest
111% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
0%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
72.1%±22.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
49%±38.3
U.S.: 51.1%
Alstead and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
3.8%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.9%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
96.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
76%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
92.4%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1986Highest
6 yrs newer than U.S.
1973Lowest
7 yrs older than U.S.
1976
4 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 minLowest
4% above U.S.
32 minHighest
20% above U.S.
31 min
18% above U.S.
Work from home
28.4%±10.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
12.1%±5.6Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
23.4%±7.1
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 Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 Fall Mountain Regional School District 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 History 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.