Compare towns
Washington vs Calais vs Lee
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Washington has the oldest population (median age 56.5).
Calais has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.4%).
Lee has the shortest commute (18 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 | Washington | Calais | Lee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 526Lowest |
1,713 |
5,719Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56.5±7.7Highest 45% above U.S. |
42±8.6Lowest 8% above U.S. |
55.2±5.8 42% above U.S. |
| Washington and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.3%±5.9 U.S.: 22% |
22.5%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.6%±5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Calais and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 35.4%±1.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
33.4%±6.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Washington and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Calais and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $95,278±$12k 18% above U.S. |
$100,625±$27kHighest 25% above U.S. |
$83,750±$13kLowest 4% above U.S. |
| Calais and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $370,700±$32k 11% above U.S. |
$390,300±$36kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$352,700±$19kLowest 6% above U.S. |
| Calais and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,408±$392Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,375±$212Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Calais and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,381 40% above U.S. |
$6,586Highest 111% above U.S. |
$3,980Lowest 28% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
49%±38.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.3%±21.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lee and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 4% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
18 minLowest 31% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.9%±10.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.4%±7.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±7.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Calais and Lee 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 | — | — | #209 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Lee |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Lee Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.2 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 20 photos → |
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.