Compare towns
Worcester vs Jackson 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 shortest commute (29 min average).
Jackson has the oldest population (median age 56.9).
Calais has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.4%).
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 | Jackson | Calais |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 831Lowest |
1,695 |
1,713Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47±2.7 21% above U.S. |
56.9±3.6Highest 46% above U.S. |
42±8.6Lowest 8% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 12.8%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
22.5%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Calais and Jackson 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% |
33.4%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53% U.S.: 35.7% |
32.6%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% |
1.8%±1.2Lowest 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. |
$77,375±$8k 4% below U.S. |
$100,625±$27kHighest 25% above U.S. |
| Calais and Jackson 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. |
$235,400±$40kLowest 29% below U.S. |
$390,300±$36kHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,023±$136Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,139±$43 19% below U.S. |
$1,408±$392Highest about the U.S. average |
| Calais and Jackson 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. |
$4,165Lowest 34% above U.S. |
$6,586Highest 111% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.5%±37Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
77.8%±44.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
49%±38.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Jackson 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% |
7.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest 9% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
31 min 18% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.6%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±3Lowest 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 | — | 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 |
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.