Compare towns
Worcester vs Moriah vs Strafford 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 people working from home (23.6%).
Moriah has the most affordable homes ($138k median).
Strafford has the shortest commute (23 min average).
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 | Moriah | Strafford | Calais |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 831Lowest |
4,483Highest |
1,372 |
1,713 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47±2.7 21% above U.S. |
56.7±3Highest 46% above U.S. |
51.4±4.7 32% above U.S. |
42±8.6Lowest 8% above U.S. |
| Moriah and Strafford 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% |
15.4%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
23%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.5%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Strafford and Calais 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%±6.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53% U.S.: 35.7% |
25.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
55.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±4.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.6%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.6 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. |
$63,113±$6kLowest 22% below U.S. |
$110,833±$19kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$100,625±$27k 25% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Calais 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. |
$138,200±$9kLowest 58% below U.S. |
$431,300±$40kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$390,300±$36k 17% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,023±$136 28% below U.S. |
$832±$165Lowest 41% below U.S. |
$1,125±$789 20% below U.S. |
$1,408±$392Highest about the U.S. average |
| Calais and Strafford 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. |
$2,644Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$7,149Highest 129% above U.S. |
$6,586 111% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.5%±37Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.2%±25.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±48 U.S.: 51.1% |
49%±38.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Moriah and Calais 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% |
14.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1951Lowest 29 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 9% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
31 min 18% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.6%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.4%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±4.3 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 | — | #380 of 484 in NY | — | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | MORIAH CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | Strafford School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None in town | MORIAH JUNIOR-SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.6 |
— | — |
| 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.