Compare towns
Worcester vs Exeter vs Andover 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
Exeter has the most affordable homes ($243k median).
Andover has the most people working from home (29.6%).
Calais has the youngest population (median age 42).
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 | Exeter | Andover | Calais |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 831 |
913 |
616Lowest |
1,713Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-14.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +3.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47±2.7 21% above U.S. |
51.7±12.6Highest 33% above U.S. |
49.2±5.1 26% above U.S. |
42±8.6Lowest 8% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 12.8%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
22.7%±7.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.5%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.5%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Exeter and Calais 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% |
26.9%±10.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.7%±4.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Exeter and Andover 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% |
28.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
55.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±4.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.5 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. |
$77,550±$19k 4% below U.S. |
$102,500±$38kHighest 27% above U.S. |
$100,625±$27k 25% above U.S. |
| Andover and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $271,100±$27k 19% below U.S. |
$243,000±$89kLowest 27% below U.S. |
$382,900±$68k 15% above U.S. |
$390,300±$36kHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Calais and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,023±$136 28% below U.S. |
$867±$44Lowest 39% below U.S. |
$1,389±$364 about the U.S. average |
$1,408±$392Highest about the U.S. average |
| Calais and Andover 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. |
$2,926Lowest 6% below U.S. |
$5,190 66% above U.S. |
$6,586Highest 111% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.5%±37 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
69.4%±47.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
49%±38.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Andover and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
97.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.8%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. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 9% above U.S. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.6%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.4%±10.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.6%±12.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.4%±7.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Andover and Worcester 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 | — | — | 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 | 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.