Compare towns

Barnard vs Lyndeborough 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%).
Lyndeborough has the oldest population (median age 50).
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.

MeasureBarnardLyndeboroughWestford
People
Population
1,211Lowest
1,616
2,290Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+4.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+1.1%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+1.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
42.4±6Lowest
9% above U.S.
50±3.2Highest
29% above U.S.
44.1±8.6
13% above U.S.
Lyndeborough 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%
14.9%±5.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
16.9%±4.6
U.S.: 22%
Age 65+
22%±3.6
U.S.: 17.2%
22.6%±1.8Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
17.2%±3.2Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Lyndeborough 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%
40.1%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
52.3%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.4%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.7%±1.5
U.S.: 6.4%
9.5%±4.6Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Westford and Lyndeborough 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.
$116,964±$17kHighest
45% above U.S.
$112,750±$12k
40% above U.S.
Lyndeborough and Westford 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.
$390,900±$26kLowest
17% 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
$1,482±$457
5% above U.S.
$2,375±$1kHighest
68% above U.S.
Westford and Lyndeborough 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.
$7,133Highest
129% above U.S.
$6,282
101% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
27%±19.8Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
48.9%±90Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
29.8%±31
U.S.: 51.1%
Lyndeborough 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%
3.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
2.5%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
85.4%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
92.4%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.
39 minHighest
48% above U.S.
33 min
26% above U.S.
Work from home
19.3%±10.8Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
16.7%±3.5Lowest
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
School district Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 Wilton-Lyndeborough Cooperative 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 6 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.