Compare towns
Westford vs Plainville 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
Westford has the highest household income ($113k).
Plainville has the most affordable homes ($254k median).
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.
| Measure | Westford | Plainville | Calais |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,290 |
17,551Highest |
1,713Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +3.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.1±8.6 13% above U.S. |
44.3±1.5Highest 14% above U.S. |
42±8.6Lowest 8% above U.S. |
| Plainville and Westford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.5%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Calais and Westford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.2%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.1%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Calais and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
30%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9.5%±4.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.4%±3.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Westford and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $112,750±$12kHighest 40% above U.S. |
$84,343±$7kLowest 4% above U.S. |
$100,625±$27k 25% above U.S. |
| Westford and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $424,500±$21kHighest 28% above U.S. |
$254,000±$14kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$390,300±$36k 17% above U.S. |
| Westford and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,375±$1kHighest 68% above U.S. |
$1,126±$147Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,408±$392 about the U.S. average |
| Westford and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,282 101% above U.S. |
$4,798Lowest 54% above U.S. |
$6,586Highest 111% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.8%±31Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
49%±38.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Calais and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
31 min 18% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.1%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.7%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.4%±7.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Calais and Westford 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 | — | #89 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51 | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None in town | Plainville High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.4 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 6 photos → | 6 photos → | 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.