Compare towns
Barnard vs Lee 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%).
Lee has the shortest commute (18 min average).
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 | Lee | Westford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,211Lowest |
5,719Highest |
2,290 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±6Lowest 9% above U.S. |
55.2±5.8Highest 42% above U.S. |
44.1±8.6 13% above U.S. |
| Lee 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% |
12.6%±5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 22%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
33.4%±6.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
9.5%±4.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Westford and Lee 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 21% above U.S. |
$83,750±$13kLowest 4% above U.S. |
$112,750±$12kHighest 40% above U.S. |
| Westford and Barnard 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. |
$352,700±$19kLowest 6% above 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 |
$1,375±$212 about the U.S. average |
$2,375±$1kHighest 68% above U.S. |
| Westford and Lee 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. |
$3,980Lowest 28% above U.S. |
$6,282Highest 101% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27%±19.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.3%±21.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
29.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lee 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% |
7.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 8% above U.S. |
18 minLowest 31% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.3%±10.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±7.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.1%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Barnard and Westford 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 | — | #209 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Lee | Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51 |
| High school in town | None in town | Lee Middle/High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.2 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 20 photos → | 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.