Compare towns
Worcester vs Windham vs Gray 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).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.4%).
Gray has the most renters (17.6% rent).
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.
| Measure | Worcester | Windham | Gray | Calais |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 831Lowest |
19,188Highest |
8,429 |
1,713 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47±2.7Highest 21% above U.S. |
41.8±1.8Lowest 7% above U.S. |
43.4±4.5 12% above U.S. |
42±8.6 8% above U.S. |
| Worcester and Gray 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% |
19.2%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
19%±4 U.S.: 22% |
22.5%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Calais and Windham 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% |
15.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Calais and Worcester 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% |
44.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
55.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±4.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.2 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. |
$107,934±$14kHighest 34% above U.S. |
$95,236±$8k 18% above U.S. |
$100,625±$27k 25% above U.S. |
| Windham 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. |
$388,900±$22k 17% above U.S. |
$363,700±$20k 9% above U.S. |
$390,300±$36kHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Calais and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,023±$136Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,232±$332 13% below U.S. |
$1,371±$89 about the U.S. average |
$1,408±$392Highest about the U.S. average |
| Calais and Gray 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. |
$3,938 26% above U.S. |
$3,683Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$6,586Highest 111% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.5%±37Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
32.7%±14.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±24Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
49%±38.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Gray 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% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 9% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
29 min 8% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.6%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.5Lowest 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 | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #95 of 133 in ME | #10 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | RSU 14 | RSU 15/MSAD 15 · Fiddlehead School of Arts and Sciences | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None in town | Windham High School | Gray-New Gloucester High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1Lowest |
12.5Highest |
— |
| 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.