Compare towns
Worcester vs Reading vs Calais vs Elmore
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).
Reading has the most expensive homes ($809k median).
Calais has the youngest population (median age 42).
Elmore has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.6%).
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 | Reading | Calais | Elmore |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 831Lowest |
25,612Highest |
1,713 |
964 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47±2.7Highest 21% above U.S. |
43.7±2.3 12% above U.S. |
42±8.6Lowest 8% above U.S. |
45±3.5 16% above U.S. |
| Worcester and Elmore 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% |
22.8%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
22.5%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±9.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Elmore and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.5%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.6%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Calais and Reading 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% |
66.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
55.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
47.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±4.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±0.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest 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. |
$165,912±$13kHighest 106% above U.S. |
$100,625±$27k 25% above U.S. |
$98,750±$24k 22% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $271,100±$27kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$809,000±$22kHighest 143% above U.S. |
$390,300±$36k 17% above U.S. |
$315,800±$47k 5% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,023±$136Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,991±$273Highest 41% above U.S. |
$1,408±$392 about the U.S. average |
$1,225±$263 13% below U.S. |
| Reading 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. |
$9,320Highest 199% above U.S. |
$6,586 111% above U.S. |
$5,066 62% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.5%±37Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
27.8%±9.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
49%±38.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±65.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Calais and Elmore 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% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest 9% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.6%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
30.2%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.4%±7.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.4%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Reading 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 | — | #50 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Reading | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Elmore-Morristown Unified Union School District #90 |
| High school in town | None in town | Reading Memorial High | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1 |
— | — |
| 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.