Compare towns
Barnard vs Brookline 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
Barnard has the shortest commute (29 min average).
Brookline has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).
Westford has the oldest population (median age 44.1).
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 | Barnard | Brookline | Westford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,211Lowest |
5,736Highest |
2,290 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+13%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±6 9% above U.S. |
41.2±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
44.1±8.6Highest 13% above U.S. |
| Westford and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 26.9%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
26.7%±4 U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Barnard and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
11.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Barnard and Westford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
57.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.3%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
9.5%±4.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Westford and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $97,581±$19kLowest 21% above U.S. |
$171,046±$4kHighest 112% above U.S. |
$112,750±$12k 40% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $402,600±$71kLowest 21% above U.S. |
$544,400±$38kHighest 64% above U.S. |
$424,500±$21k 28% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,372±$80Lowest about the U.S. average |
$2,500±$1kHighest 77% above U.S. |
$2,375±$1k 68% above U.S. |
| Brookline and Westford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,038Lowest 94% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,282 101% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27%±19.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
23.8%±43.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
29.8%±31Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Westford and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
0.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest 8% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.3%±10.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
24.7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.1%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Brookline and Barnard 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 | — | #23 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Brookline School District | Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.