Compare towns
Arkwright vs Strafford 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 most affordable homes ($171k median).
Strafford has the most expensive homes ($431k median).
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 | Strafford | Westford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 859Lowest |
1,372Highest |
862 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.8±7.2 31% above U.S. |
51.4±4.7Highest 32% above U.S. |
48.7±8.1Lowest 25% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Arkwright are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
23%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.5%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Strafford and Arkwright 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% |
22.1%±3.4Lowest 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% |
53.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
23%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Strafford and Westford 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. |
$110,833±$19kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$65,625±$18kLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Strafford 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. |
$431,300±$40kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$175,000±$27k 47% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $875±$689Lowest 38% below U.S. |
$1,125±$789Highest 20% below U.S. |
— |
| Strafford 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. |
$7,149Highest 129% above U.S. |
$2,644Lowest 15% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50%±65.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±48 U.S.: 51.1% |
24.3%±38.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Arkwright and Strafford 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% |
5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 6% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.5%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Strafford 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.