Compare towns

Middleton vs Calais vs Effingham

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Middleton has the most homeowners (96.5%).
Calais has the most people working from home (23.4%).
Effingham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+15.4%).

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.

MeasureMiddletonCalaisEffingham
People
Population
1,595Lowest
1,713
1,912Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2.2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+3.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
+15.4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
43.5±5.7
12% above U.S.
42±8.6Lowest
8% above U.S.
46.9±12.4Highest
21% above U.S.
Effingham and Middleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
18.9%±4.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
22.5%±5.4Highest
U.S.: 22%
19.5%±4.5
U.S.: 22%
Calais and Effingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
18.9%±2
U.S.: 17.2%
21.6%±5.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
18.7%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Calais and Middleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
23.4%
U.S.: 35.7%
55.4%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
20.3%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.2%±1.9
U.S.: 6.4%
7.4%±3.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
1.1%±0.8Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Calais and Middleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$101,696±$8kHighest
26% above U.S.
$100,625±$27k
25% above U.S.
$76,607±$14kLowest
5% below U.S.
Middleton and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$312,300±$27kLowest
6% below U.S.
$390,300±$36kHighest
17% above U.S.
$322,700±$30k
3% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,500±$293Highest
6% above U.S.
$1,408±$392
about the U.S. average
$1,090±$121Lowest
23% below U.S.
Middleton and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,504
76% above U.S.
$6,586Highest
111% above U.S.
$5,163Lowest
66% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
83.3%±100Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
49%±38.3
U.S.: 51.1%
13.6%±40.4Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Middleton and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
5.8%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
9%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
96.5%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
92.4%
U.S.: 65.2%
90.2%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1981
1 yr newer than U.S.
1976Lowest
4 yrs older than U.S.
1982Highest
2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
39 minHighest
47% above U.S.
31 minLowest
18% above U.S.
32 min
19% above U.S.
Work from home
14.1%±5.4Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
23.4%±7.1Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
16.1%±4.2
U.S.: 15.1%
Calais and Effingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district Middleton School District Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 Governor Wentworth Regional School District
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.