What are the schools like in Calais, ME?

Calais is served primarily by Calais Public Schools. The district operates 1 elementary schools, several middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 8.8:1.

What is the median household income in Calais?

The median household income in Calais, ME is $45,250 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 9.8%.

What is the weather like in Calais, ME?

Calais has an average high temperature of 28.7°F in January and 76.9°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 54.7 inches and annual snowfall averages 95.0 inches.

Calais, ME Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Calais, ME affordable or expensive?

Calais's cost of living index is 90, where 100 represents the national average. This means Calais is 10% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $97,800 and the median rent is $698 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Calais, ME?

Calais has a violent crime rate of 63.7 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 1401.3 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Calais, ME a Good Place to Live?

Calais is a small town of 3,078 in Maine, with a median household income of $45,250 and a 9.8% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 90 (US average = 100), which is 10% below the national average.

Strengths: Calais stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (B+), short average commutes.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Calais is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Calais city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 90.0

Calais's overall cost of living index is 90.0, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Calais costs roughly 10% less than the average American city.

Metric	Calais, ME	National Avg
Median Home Value	$97,800	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$698	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	65.6%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$45,250	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Calais's violent crime rate is 63.7 per 100,000 residents — 83% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

63.7 /100k

Property Crime

1401.3 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Calais is served primarily by Calais Public Schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 8.8:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Calais, ME	National Avg
School District	Calais Public Schools	—
Elementary Schools	1	—
Middle Schools	N/A	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	8.8:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	21.2%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	87.6%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Calais sees average highs of 28.7°F in January and 76.9°F in July, with 54.7 inches of annual precipitation and 95.0 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Calais, ME
Average High — January	28.7°F
Average High — July	76.9°F
Annual Precipitation	54.7"
Annual Snowfall	95.0"

Demographics

Metric	Calais, ME	National Avg
Population	3,078	—
Median Age	49.9	38.9
Unemployment Rate	9.8%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	17.1 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	93.8%	59.3%
Black or African American	2.4%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	1.0%	18.9%
Asian	0.5%	6.3%
Under 18	14.2%	22.2%
65 and over	28.5%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Woodland, ME 9 mi Eastport, ME 19 mi Lubec, ME 23 mi Vanceboro, ME 31 mi Machias, ME 33 mi

ZIP Codes in Calais

Calais, ME is covered by 1 ZIP code:

04619

Calais vs Other Cities

Calais, ME vs Woodland, ME Calais, ME vs Eastport, ME Calais, ME vs Lubec, ME Calais, ME vs Vanceboro, ME Calais, ME vs Machias, ME

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Calais, ME affordable or expensive?

Calais's cost of living index is 90, where 100 is the national average. That makes Calais roughly 10% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $97,800 and median rent is $698/month.

What is the crime rate in Calais, ME?

Calais's violent crime rate is 63.7 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1401.3 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Calais?

Public schools in Calais are operated by Calais Public Schools. The district has 1 elementary, several middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 8.8:1. 21.2% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Calais, ME a good place to live?

Calais, ME has a population of 3,078, a median household income of $45,250, and an unemployment rate of 9.8%. It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Calais?

Calais averages 28.7°F in January and 76.9°F in July. Annual rainfall is 54.7 inches with about 95.0 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Calais?

Calais, ME is covered by 1 ZIP code: 04619.

What is the population of Calais?

The population of Calais, Maine is 3,078 with a median age of 49.9. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Calais?

Key numbers for living in Calais: cost of living index 90 (100 = US average), median home $97,800, median household income $45,250, crime index 37 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Calais side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.