Compare towns
Worcester vs Meredith 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).
Meredith has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.7%).
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 | Meredith | Calais |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 831Lowest |
6,758Highest |
1,713 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47±2.7 21% above U.S. |
55.5±3.7Highest 43% above U.S. |
42±8.6Lowest 8% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 12.8%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
12.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.5%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 19.5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
34.2%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53% U.S.: 35.7% |
45.9%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% |
2.9%±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. |
$87,019±$19k 8% above U.S. |
$100,625±$27kHighest 25% above U.S. |
| Calais and Meredith 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. |
$480,100±$48kHighest 44% above U.S. |
$390,300±$36k 17% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,023±$136Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,149±$304 19% below U.S. |
$1,408±$392Highest about the U.S. average |
| Calais and Meredith 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. |
$5,006 61% above U.S. |
$6,586Highest 111% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.5%±37Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.5%±9.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
49%±38.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Calais and Meredith 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% |
7.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 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%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.4%±7.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Meredith 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 | — | #62 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None in town | Inter-Lakes High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1 |
— |
| 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.