Compare towns

Worcester vs Whately 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).
Whately has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.4%).
Calais has the most kids (22.5% 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.

MeasureWorcesterWhatelyCalais
People
Population
831Lowest
1,499
1,713Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+7.4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+3.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
47±2.7
21% above U.S.
49.3±6.7Highest
27% above U.S.
42±8.6Lowest
8% above U.S.
Whately 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%
16.4%±3.8
U.S.: 22%
22.5%±5.4Highest
U.S.: 22%
Calais and Whately 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%
24.5%±6.3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
21.6%±5.2
U.S.: 17.2%
Whately 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%
47.6%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%
2.5%±1.4Lowest
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.
$116,563±$15kHighest
44% above U.S.
$100,625±$27k
25% above U.S.
Whately and Calais 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.
$431,500±$22kHighest
30% above U.S.
$390,300±$36k
17% above U.S.
Whately and Calais 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.
$977±$125Lowest
31% 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
$4,421Lowest
42% above U.S.
$5,027
61% above U.S.
$6,586Highest
111% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
25.5%±37Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
26.7%±29
U.S.: 51.1%
49%±38.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Calais and Whately 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%
5.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.8%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
85.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
88.2%
U.S.: 65.2%
92.4%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1976Highest
4 yrs older than U.S.
1974Lowest
6 yrs older than U.S.
1976Highest
4 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 min
9% above U.S.
23 minLowest
13% below U.S.
31 minHighest
18% above U.S.
Work from home
23.6%±4.8Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
20.4%±8.5Lowest
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 Whately 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.