What stands out worked out from the figures below

Washington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Washington	Calais
People
Population	1,208Lowest	1,713Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	55±4.7Highest 41% above U.S.	42±8.6Lowest 8% above U.S.
	Washington and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	13.8%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 22%	22.5%±5.4Highest 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+	29%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2%	21.6%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Washington and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	32%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	55.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.6%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	7.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Calais and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$89,453±$12kLowest 11% above U.S.	$100,625±$27kHighest 25% 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	$358,600±$32kLowest 8% above U.S.	$390,300±$36kHighest 17% 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	$1,106±$160Lowest 22% below U.S.	$1,408±$392Highest about the U.S. average
	Calais and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,321Lowest 39% above U.S.	$6,586Highest 111% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	0%±88.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	49%±38.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Calais and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	8.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	94.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	92.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S.	1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	36 minHighest 34% above U.S.	31 minLowest 18% above U.S.
Work from home	14.9%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	23.4%±7.1Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Calais and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Washington School District	Washington Central Unified Union School District #92
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.