Compare towns

Worcester vs Croydon 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).
Croydon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).
Calais has the most expensive homes ($390k median).

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.

MeasureWorcesterCroydonCalais
People
Population
831
798Lowest
1,713Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+4.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+3.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
47±2.7Highest
21% above U.S.
43±9.1
11% above U.S.
42±8.6Lowest
8% above U.S.
Worcester and Croydon 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%
19%±6.3
U.S.: 22%
22.5%±5.4Highest
U.S.: 22%
Calais and Croydon 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%
27.4%±3.6Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
21.6%±5.2
U.S.: 17.2%
Croydon 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%
21.4%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
55.4%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.9%±4.7
U.S.: 6.4%
4%±3.3Lowest
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.
$98,333±$21k
22% above U.S.
$100,625±$27kHighest
25% above U.S.
Calais and Croydon 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.
$317,300±$33k
5% below U.S.
$390,300±$36kHighest
17% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,023±$136
28% below U.S.
$991±$336Lowest
30% below U.S.
$1,408±$392Highest
about the U.S. average
Calais and Worcester 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.
$3,806Lowest
22% above U.S.
$6,586Highest
111% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
25.5%±37
U.S.: 51.1%
7.1%±75.3Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
49%±38.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Calais and Worcester 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%
6.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
8.8%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
85.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
86.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
92.4%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1976Lowest
4 yrs older than U.S.
1981Highest
1 yr newer than U.S.
1976Lowest
4 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 min
9% above U.S.
26 minLowest
about the U.S. average
31 minHighest
18% above U.S.
Work from home
23.6%±4.8Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
5.3%±4.9Lowest
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 Croydon School District 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

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.