Compare towns

Worcester vs Westport 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).
Westport has the most affordable homes ($237k median).
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.

MeasureWorcesterWestportCalais
People
Population
831Lowest
1,550
1,713Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.4%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±5Highest
35% above U.S.
42±8.6Lowest
8% above U.S.
Westport 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%
17.1%±5.6
U.S.: 22%
22.5%±5.4Highest
U.S.: 22%
Calais and Westport 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%
30.3%±2.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
21.6%±5.2
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
53%
U.S.: 35.7%
35.6%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%
1.4%±1.3Lowest
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.
$71,146±$13kLowest
12% 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.
$237,100±$46kLowest
29% below U.S.
$390,300±$36kHighest
17% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,023±$136
28% below U.S.
$895±$71Lowest
37% below U.S.
$1,408±$392Highest
about the U.S. average
Calais and Worcester 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.
$4,135Lowest
33% above U.S.
$6,586Highest
111% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
25.5%±37Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
36.7%±22.8
U.S.: 51.1%
49%±38.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Calais and Westport 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%
11%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
85.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
82.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
92.4%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1976Highest
4 yrs older than U.S.
1938Lowest
42 yrs older than U.S.
1976Highest
4 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 minLowest
9% above U.S.
30 min
12% above U.S.
31 minHighest
18% above U.S.
Work from home
23.6%±4.8Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
11.7%±4.1Lowest
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 BOQUET VALLEY CSD 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 Our Story 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.