Compare towns

Arkwright vs Brookfield vs Westford

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Arkwright has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Brookfield has the most people working from home (27.3%).
Westford has the oldest housing (typical home built 1971).

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.

MeasureArkwrightBrookfieldWestford
People
Population
859Lowest
1,486Highest
862
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-5%
U.S.: +7.4%
-3.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-7.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
50.8±7.2Highest
31% above U.S.
47±5.9Lowest
21% above U.S.
48.7±8.1
25% above U.S.
Arkwright and Westford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
17.2%±5.4
U.S.: 22%
18.8%±4.1Highest
U.S.: 22%
15.5%±2.7Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Brookfield and Arkwright are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
23.2%±3.1Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
29.7%±6.4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
26.5%±4.8
U.S.: 17.2%
Brookfield and Westford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
26.4%
U.S.: 35.7%
45.3%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
23%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.3%±1.6
U.S.: 6.4%
3.2%±2.4Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.4%±2.2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Westford and Arkwright are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$93,000±$26k
15% above U.S.
$98,500±$23kHighest
22% above U.S.
$65,625±$18kLowest
19% below U.S.
Brookfield and Arkwright are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$170,900±$30kLowest
49% below U.S.
$339,300±$15kHighest
about the U.S. average
$175,000±$27k
47% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$875±$689Lowest
38% below U.S.
$975±$306Highest
31% below U.S.
—
Brookfield and Arkwright are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,760
21% above U.S.
$4,560Highest
46% above U.S.
$2,644Lowest
15% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
50%±65.2Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
30.4%±27.8
U.S.: 51.1%
24.3%±38.5Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Arkwright and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
12.2%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
6.3%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
7.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
89.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
87.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
89.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1979Highest
1 yr older than U.S.
1975
5 yrs older than U.S.
1971Lowest
9 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 minLowest
about the U.S. average
37 minHighest
38% above U.S.
28 min
6% above U.S.
Work from home
6%±3.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
27.3%±10.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
7.5%±3.9
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
School district — Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 —
High school 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.