Compare towns
Worcester vs Thompson 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).
Thompson has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
Calais has the most expensive homes ($390k median).
Elmore has the most kids (23.4% 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 | Thompson | Calais | Elmore |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 831Lowest |
9,337Highest |
1,713 |
964 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47±2.7 21% above U.S. |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
42±8.6Lowest 8% above U.S. |
45±3.5 16% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 12.8%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.5%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±9.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Elmore and Calais 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% |
24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.6%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Thompson 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% |
21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
47.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±4.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.3 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. |
$93,629±$18k 16% above U.S. |
$100,625±$27kHighest 25% above U.S. |
$98,750±$24k 22% above U.S. |
| Calais and Elmore 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. |
$291,900±$24k 12% below U.S. |
$390,300±$36kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$315,800±$47k 5% below U.S. |
| Calais and Elmore 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. |
$1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,408±$392Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,225±$263 13% below U.S. |
| Calais and Elmore 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. |
$3,822Lowest 23% above U.S. |
$6,586Highest 111% above U.S. |
$5,066 62% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.5%±37Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±18.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
49%±38.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±65.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Thompson 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% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%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. |
1963Lowest 17 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. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
31 min 18% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.6%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.4%±7.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.4%±4.3Lowest 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 | — | #130 of 149 in CT | — | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Thompson School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Elmore-Morristown Unified Union School District #90 |
| High school in town | None in town | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.9 |
— | — |
| 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.