Compare towns
Middlesex vs Sullivan 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%).
Sullivan has the most affordable homes ($237k median).
Worcester has the most renters (14.1% rent).
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.
| Measure | Middlesex | Sullivan | Worcester | Calais |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,943Highest |
687Lowest |
831 |
1,713 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
46.6±6.5 20% above U.S. |
47±2.7Highest 21% above U.S. |
42±8.6Lowest 8% above U.S. |
| Worcester and Sullivan 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% |
16.3%±5 U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest 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%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.5%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest 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% |
28.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53% U.S.: 35.7% |
55.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±4.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Calais and Worcester 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. |
$106,667±$20k 32% above U.S. |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$100,625±$27k 25% above U.S. |
| Middlesex and Sullivan 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. |
$236,500±$29kLowest 29% below U.S. |
$271,100±$27k 19% 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±$359 6% below U.S. |
$1,225±$275 13% below U.S. |
$1,023±$136Lowest 28% 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. |
$5,099 63% above U.S. |
$4,421Lowest 42% above U.S. |
$6,586Highest 111% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±84.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
25.5%±37 U.S.: 51.1% |
49%±38.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Calais and Sullivan 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% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
31 min 18% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
4.2%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.4%±7.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex and Worcester 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 | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | 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 Our Story | 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.