Compare towns
Worcester vs Gorham vs Stowe 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
Gorham has the most affordable homes ($162k median).
Stowe has grown the fastest since 2010 (+21.1%).
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 | Gorham | Stowe | Calais |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 831Lowest |
2,682 |
5,285Highest |
1,713 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+21.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47±2.7 21% above U.S. |
53.9±3.6Highest 39% above U.S. |
46.3±7.6 19% above U.S. |
42±8.6Lowest 8% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 12.8%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
12.5%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.5%±4.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.5%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 19.5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
31.7%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.8%±6.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Gorham and Stowe 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% |
20.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
66.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
55.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±4.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.6%±1.6Lowest 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±$18k 9% below U.S. |
$61,275±$7kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$93,618±$33k 16% above U.S. |
$100,625±$27kHighest 25% above U.S. |
| Calais and Stowe 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. |
$161,600±$49kLowest 51% below U.S. |
$647,800±$157kHighest 95% above U.S. |
$390,300±$36k 17% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,023±$136 28% below U.S. |
$838±$83Lowest 41% below U.S. |
$1,458±$242Highest 3% above U.S. |
$1,408±$392 about the U.S. average |
| Stowe 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. |
$4,334Lowest 39% above U.S. |
$7,161Highest 130% above U.S. |
$6,586 111% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.5%±37 U.S.: 51.1% |
41%±20.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
24.5%±15.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
49%±38.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Calais and Gorham 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% |
9.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 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. |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.6%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
1.7%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.4%±8.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.4%±7.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Stowe and Worcester 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 | — | #57 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Gorham Randolph Shelburne Cooperative School District | Stowe Town School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None in town | Gorham High School | Stowe High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.0Lowest |
11.3Highest |
— |
| 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.