Compare towns
Worcester vs Becket vs Windham 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
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k median).
Becket has the most homeowners (98.2%).
Windham has the shortest commute (27 min average).
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 | Worcester | Becket | Windham | Calais |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 831 |
1,962Highest |
594Lowest |
1,713 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47±2.7 21% above U.S. |
49.6±4.7Highest 28% above U.S. |
44.2±7.4 14% above U.S. |
42±8.6Lowest 8% above U.S. |
| Becket and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 12.8%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
17.5%±7.9 U.S.: 22% |
22.5%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Calais and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.3%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.2%±8.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Windham and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53% U.S.: 35.7% |
45.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
55.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±4.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Calais and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,833±$18kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$80,417±$29k about the U.S. average |
$94,500±$12k 17% above U.S. |
$100,625±$27kHighest 25% above U.S. |
| Calais and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $271,100±$27kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$361,000±$82k 9% above U.S. |
$353,900±$20k 6% above U.S. |
$390,300±$36kHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Calais and Becket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,023±$136Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$2,107±$1kHighest 49% above U.S. |
— | $1,408±$392 about the U.S. average |
| Becket and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,421 42% above U.S. |
$3,047Lowest about the U.S. average |
$5,951 91% above U.S. |
$6,586Highest 111% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.5%±37Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±94 U.S.: 51.1% |
49%±38.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Becket and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
98.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 9% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
31 min 18% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.6%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.5%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.4%±7.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Worcester and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Central Berkshire | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| 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 | 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.