Compare towns

Worcester vs Rowe 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).
Rowe has the oldest population (median age 48.9).
Calais has the most expensive homes ($390k median).

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.

MeasureWorcesterRoweCalais
People
Population
831
453Lowest
1,713Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
—
+3.4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
47±2.7
21% above U.S.
48.9±6.4Highest
26% above U.S.
42±8.6Lowest
8% above U.S.
Rowe and Worcester 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%
23%±5Highest
U.S.: 22%
22.5%±5.4
U.S.: 22%
Rowe 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%
30.2%±8.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
21.6%±5.2
U.S.: 17.2%
Rowe 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%
26.2%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%
3.3%±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±$18k
9% below U.S.
$69,583±$13kLowest
14% below U.S.
$100,625±$27kHighest
25% above U.S.
Calais and Worcester 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.
$275,000±$41k
17% below U.S.
$390,300±$36kHighest
17% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,023±$136Lowest
28% below U.S.
$1,313±$576
7% below U.S.
$1,408±$392Highest
about the U.S. average
Calais and Rowe 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.
$1,458Lowest
53% below U.S.
$6,586Highest
111% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
25.5%±37
U.S.: 51.1%
11.8%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
49%±38.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Calais and Worcester 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%
15.8%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
85.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
90.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
92.4%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1976Highest
4 yrs older than U.S.
1959Lowest
21 yrs older than U.S.
1976Highest
4 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 minLowest
9% above U.S.
36 minHighest
35% above U.S.
31 min
18% above U.S.
Work from home
23.6%±4.8Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
7.2%±3.8Lowest
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 Rowe Washington Central Unified Union School District #92
High school in town None 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.