Compare towns
Worcester vs Thurman vs Plainfield 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%).
Thurman has the most affordable homes ($197k median).
Plainfield has the shortest commute (24 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 | Thurman | Plainfield | Calais |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 831Lowest |
977 |
1,314 |
1,713Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-10.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47±2.7 21% above U.S. |
52.7±3.8Highest 35% above U.S. |
48.1±5.5 24% above U.S. |
42±8.6Lowest 8% above U.S. |
| Thurman and Plainfield 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% |
16.8%±4 U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
22.5%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Calais and Thurman 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% |
28.8%±3.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Thurman 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% |
24.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
55.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±4.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.7%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.3 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. |
$58,750±$14kLowest 27% below U.S. |
$69,250±$31k 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±$27k 19% below U.S. |
$197,400±$43kLowest 41% below U.S. |
$318,400±$34k 4% below U.S. |
$390,300±$36kHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,023±$136Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$2,175±$599Highest 54% above U.S. |
$1,153±$103 18% below U.S. |
$1,408±$392 about the U.S. average |
| Thurman and Calais 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. |
$2,368Lowest 24% below U.S. |
$4,806 54% above U.S. |
$6,586Highest 111% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.5%±37 U.S.: 51.1% |
23.1%±77.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
73.2%±53.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
49%±38.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Plainfield and Calais 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% |
19.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 9% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 24% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
31 min 18% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.6%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±8.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±4.4Lowest 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 | — | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | — | None in town |
| 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.