Compare towns

Middlesex vs Hancock 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%).
Hancock has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.7%).
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.

MeasureMiddlesexHancockCalais
People
Population
1,943Highest
1,791
1,713Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2.8%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+4.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+3.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
44.4±3.9
14% above U.S.
53.8±4.5Highest
38% above U.S.
42±8.6Lowest
8% above U.S.
Kids under 18
21.3%±3.1
U.S.: 22%
15.4%±2.2Lowest
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%
30.2%±2.7Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
21.6%±5.2
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
54.7%
U.S.: 35.7%
53.9%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%
4%±1.6Lowest
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.
$95,208±$15kLowest
18% above 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±$40kLowest
13% above U.S.
$436,700±$22kHighest
31% above U.S.
$390,300±$36k
17% 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
$1,333±$359
6% below U.S.
$1,208±$650Lowest
15% 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
$6,483Lowest
108% above U.S.
$6,884Highest
121% above U.S.
$6,586
111% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
0%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
32.4%±55.6
U.S.: 51.1%
49%±38.3Highest
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
3.8%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.1%
U.S.: 12.5%
8.8%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
96.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
85.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
92.4%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1986Highest
6 yrs newer than U.S.
1969Lowest
11 yrs older than U.S.
1976
4 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 minLowest
4% above U.S.
33 minHighest
25% above U.S.
31 min
18% above U.S.
Work from home
28.4%±10.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
14.9%±3.2Lowest
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 Contoocook Valley 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.