Compare towns
Worcester vs Stratham vs Middlesex 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).
Stratham has the most expensive homes ($655k median).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
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 | Stratham | Middlesex | Calais |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 831Lowest |
7,754Highest |
1,943 |
1,713 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47±2.7Highest 21% above U.S. |
41.6±4.9Lowest 7% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
42±8.6 8% above U.S. |
| Worcester and Middlesex 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% |
23.5%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
22.5%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Stratham 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% |
20.6%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Calais and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
69.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
55.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±4.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±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±$18kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$151,998±$20kHighest 88% above U.S. |
$109,632±$13k 36% above U.S. |
$100,625±$27k 25% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $271,100±$27kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$655,400±$36kHighest 97% above U.S. |
$376,300±$40k 13% above U.S. |
$390,300±$36k 17% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,023±$136Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$2,511±$377Highest 78% above U.S. |
$1,333±$359 6% below U.S. |
$1,408±$392 about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,421Lowest 42% above U.S. |
$9,781Highest 214% above U.S. |
$6,483 108% above U.S. |
$6,586 111% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.5%±37 U.S.: 51.1% |
64%±38.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
49%±38.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Stratham 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% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 9% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.6%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.3%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.4%±7.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex and Stratham 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 | — | #43 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.