Compare towns
Barnard vs Lowell 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%).
Lowell has the most affordable homes ($183k median).
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 | Lowell | Westford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,211 |
1,070Lowest |
2,290Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+0.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.4±6 about the VT average |
32.9±6.5Lowest 24% below VT |
44.1±8.6Highest about the VT average |
| 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%±5.3 VT: 17.9% |
30.7%±6.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.9%±4.6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Lowell 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% |
12.3%±4.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
17.2%±3.2 VT: 21.4% |
| 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%Highest VT: 43.8% |
19.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
52.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.8Lowest VT: 7% |
2.8%±1.9 VT: 7% |
9.5%±4.6Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $97,581±$19k 20% above VT |
$57,404±$15kLowest 29% below VT |
$112,750±$12kHighest 39% above VT |
| 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 27% above VT |
$183,400±$33kLowest 42% below 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 |
$945±$46Lowest 23% below 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 |
$2,810Lowest 44% below VT |
$6,282Highest 25% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27%±19.8 VT: 48.4% |
26.3%±92.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
29.8%±31Highest VT: 48.4% |
| 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% VT: 10.1% |
9.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
2.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
94.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest 21% above VT |
55 minHighest 135% above VT |
33 min 42% above VT |
| Work from home | 19.3%±10.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
7.5%±2.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
19.1%±6.9 VT: 16.9% |
| Barnard and Westford 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 | Lowell 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 History | 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.