Compare towns
Worcester vs Middleborough 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).
Middleborough has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.9%).
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 | Middleborough | Calais |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 831Lowest |
24,505Highest |
1,713 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47±2.7Highest 21% above U.S. |
43.4±2.1 12% above U.S. |
42±8.6Lowest 8% above U.S. |
| Worcester and Middleborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.8%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
22.5%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Calais and Middleborough 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% |
21.8%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Middleborough 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% |
32%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% |
3.5%±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. |
$97,056±$7k 20% above U.S. |
$100,625±$27kHighest 25% above U.S. |
| Calais and Middleborough 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. |
$468,700±$18kHighest 41% above U.S. |
$390,300±$36k 17% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,023±$136Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,706±$72Highest 21% above U.S. |
$1,408±$392 about the U.S. average |
| Middleborough 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. |
$6,023 93% above U.S. |
$6,586Highest 111% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.5%±37Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.2%±11.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
49%±38.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Middleborough 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% |
6.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
76.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest 9% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
31 min 18% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.6%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.6%±2.9Lowest 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 | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #170 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Middleborough | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None in town | Middleborough High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.3 |
— |
| 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.