Compare towns
Barnard vs Cabot vs Middlesex vs Westford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barnard has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).
Cabot has the most affordable homes ($269k median).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Westford has the most expensive homes ($425k median).
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 | Cabot | Middlesex | Westford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,211Lowest |
1,579 |
1,943 |
2,290Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+0.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8% VT: +2.8% |
+1.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.4±6 about the VT average |
40.3±6.6Lowest 6% below VT |
44.4±3.9Highest 3% above VT |
44.1±8.6 about the VT average |
| Middlesex and Westford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 26.9%±5.3 VT: 17.9% |
27.2%±5.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1 VT: 17.9% |
16.9%±4.6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Cabot and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22%±3.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
21%±6.4 VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
17.2%±3.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Barnard and Cabot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
44.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.7% VT: 43.8% |
52.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.8 VT: 7% |
2.2%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
9.5%±4.6Highest VT: 7% |
| Westford and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $97,581±$19k 20% above VT |
$77,031±$16kLowest 5% below VT |
$109,632±$13k 35% above VT |
$112,750±$12kHighest 39% above VT |
| Westford and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $402,600±$71k 27% above VT |
$268,500±$77kLowest 15% below VT |
$376,300±$40k 19% above VT |
$424,500±$21kHighest 34% above VT |
| Westford and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,372±$80 11% above VT |
$1,243±$354Lowest about the VT average |
$1,333±$359 8% above VT |
$2,375±$1kHighest 92% above VT |
| Westford and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,038 20% above VT |
$4,639Lowest 8% below VT |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$6,282 25% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27%±19.8 VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±26.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
29.8%±31 VT: 48.4% |
| Cabot and Westford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.6% VT: 10.1% |
9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3.8% VT: 10.1% |
2.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4% VT: 73.2% |
83.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 21% above VT |
30 min 27% above VT |
27 minLowest 17% above VT |
33 minHighest 42% above VT |
| Work from home | 19.3%±10.8 VT: 16.9% |
21.4%±4.2 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
19.1%±6.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Cabot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | 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 History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
VT 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.