Compare towns
Worcester vs Gilsum 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 oldest population (median age 47).
Gilsum has the most affordable homes ($242k median).
Windham has the most renters (17.1% rent).
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 | Gilsum | Windham | Calais |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 831 |
716 |
594Lowest |
1,713Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +3.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47±2.7Highest 21% above U.S. |
44.8±8.1 15% above U.S. |
44.2±7.4 14% above U.S. |
42±8.6Lowest 8% above U.S. |
| Worcester and Gilsum 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% |
12%±3.6Lowest 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%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±1.8Lowest 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% |
18.7%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% |
3.1%±2.3 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±$7k 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±$27k 19% below U.S. |
$241,500±$32kLowest 27% below U.S. |
$353,900±$20k 6% above U.S. |
$390,300±$36kHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Calais and Windham 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. |
$1,575±$894Highest 11% above U.S. |
— | $1,408±$392 about the U.S. average |
| Gilsum and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,421Lowest 42% above U.S. |
$5,579 79% above U.S. |
$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% |
76.5%±55.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±94 U.S.: 51.1% |
49%±38.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Gilsum 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% |
13.4%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% |
93.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 9% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
27 min about the U.S. average |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.6%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.9%±8.7Lowest 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 | Monadnock Regional 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 | 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.