Compare towns
Barnard vs Heath 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).
Heath has the most people working from home (31.7%).
Westford has the highest household income ($113k).
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 | Heath | Westford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,211 |
765Lowest |
2,290Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±6Lowest 9% above U.S. |
53.8±11.9Highest 38% above U.S. |
44.1±8.6 13% above U.S. |
| Heath and Westford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 26.9%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.1%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 22%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
33.6%±8.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Heath and Barnard 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
46.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
9.5%±4.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Westford and Heath 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. |
$98,750±$23k 22% above U.S. |
$112,750±$12kHighest 40% above U.S. |
| Westford and Heath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $402,600±$71k 21% above U.S. |
$295,000±$45kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$424,500±$21kHighest 28% above U.S. |
| 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±$80Lowest about the U.S. average |
— | $2,375±$1kHighest 68% above U.S. |
| 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 94% above U.S. |
$4,438Lowest 42% above U.S. |
$6,282Highest 101% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27%±19.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
29.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Heath and Westford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest 8% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 32% above U.S. |
33 min 26% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.3%±10.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
31.7%±17.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.1%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Heath and Barnard 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 | — | Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.