Compare towns
Romulus vs Calais vs Varick vs Ledyard
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Romulus has the most affordable homes ($179k median).
Calais has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.4%).
Varick has the most kids (30.3% under 18).
Ledyard has the shortest commute (20 min average).
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 | Romulus | Calais | Varick | Ledyard |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,110Highest |
1,713Lowest |
1,724 |
1,811 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -25.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-10.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-12.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 36.8±2.7 5% below U.S. |
42±8.6Highest 8% above U.S. |
33.1±3.6 15% below U.S. |
31±6.9Lowest 20% below U.S. |
| Calais and Romulus are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.5%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.5%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
30.3%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
16%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Varick and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 14.2%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±1.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Calais and Ledyard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 13.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.6%±0.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.4%±3.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.5%±0.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
24.6%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $69,447±$6kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$100,625±$27kHighest 25% above U.S. |
$80,250±$8k about the U.S. average |
$86,731±$12k 7% above U.S. |
| Calais and Ledyard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $178,800±$47kLowest 46% below U.S. |
$390,300±$36kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$267,200±$41k 20% below U.S. |
$249,200±$22k 25% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,059±$93Lowest 25% below U.S. |
$1,408±$392Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,279±$88 9% below U.S. |
$1,276±$317 10% below U.S. |
| Calais and Varick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,688Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$6,586Highest 111% above U.S. |
$4,604 48% above U.S. |
$3,864 24% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.3%±19.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
49%±38.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
29.6%±36.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
7.1%±18.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Romulus and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 18.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
17.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
14.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83% U.S.: 65.2% |
76.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958Lowest 22 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1959 21 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 12% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
23 min 12% below U.S. |
20 minLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.6%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.4%±7.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.7%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.4%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Calais and Varick 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 | #449 of 484 in NY | — | — | — |
| School district | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — | — |
| 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.