Compare towns
Arkwright vs Jay 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 highest household income ($93k).
Jay has the most people working from home (27.3%).
Westford has the youngest population (median age 48.7).
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 | Arkwright | Jay | Westford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 859 |
471Lowest |
862Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.8±7.2 31% above U.S. |
52.1±10.5Highest 34% above U.S. |
48.7±8.1Lowest 25% above U.S. |
| Jay and Arkwright are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.2%±7.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.5%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Arkwright and Westford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.2%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.5%±4.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Westford and Arkwright 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% |
45.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
23%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest 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±$26kHighest 15% above U.S. |
$74,792±$25k 7% below U.S. |
$65,625±$18kLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Arkwright and Jay 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. |
$234,200±$45kHighest 30% below U.S. |
$175,000±$27k 47% below U.S. |
| Jay and Westford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $875±$689 38% below U.S. |
— | — |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,760Highest 21% above U.S. |
$3,588 15% above U.S. |
$2,644Lowest 15% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50%±65.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
24.3%±38.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Arkwright and Jay 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% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
97%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
2001Highest 21 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
40 minHighest 50% above U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.3%±13.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.5%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | — |
| 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.