Compare towns
Middlesex vs Everett vs Worcester 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%).
Everett has the most expensive homes ($610k median).
Worcester has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Calais has the most kids (22.5% under 18).
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.
| Measure | Middlesex | Everett | Worcester | Calais |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,943 |
50,045 |
207,055Highest |
1,713Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+17.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.4±3.9Highest 14% above U.S. |
35.2±1.5 10% below U.S. |
33.9±0.5Lowest 13% below U.S. |
42±8.6 8% above U.S. |
| Middlesex and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.5%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Calais and Everett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
11.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
13.3%±0.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Calais and Middlesex 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% |
24.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
55.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.3%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
14.1%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.4%±3.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S. |
$85,218±$7k 6% above U.S. |
$70,102±$2kLowest 13% 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. |
$610,000±$23kHighest 83% above U.S. |
$374,400±$7kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$390,300±$36k 17% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,333±$359Lowest 6% below U.S. |
$2,076±$69Highest 47% above U.S. |
$1,487±$38 5% above U.S. |
$1,408±$392 about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,483 108% above U.S. |
$4,880 56% above U.S. |
$4,733Lowest 52% above U.S. |
$6,586Highest 111% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.2%±2.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
49%±38.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Everett and Worcester 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% |
14.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
19.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
37.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
42.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1951 29 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 4% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 33% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
31 min 18% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±1 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 | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #264 of 282 in MA | #266 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Everett | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None in town | Everett High | South High Community | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1Lowest |
14.6Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.