Compare towns
Barnard vs Monroe 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 the most kids (26.9% under 18).
Monroe has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).
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 | Monroe | Westford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,211 |
786Lowest |
2,290Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±6Lowest 9% above U.S. |
51±10.4Highest 31% above U.S. |
44.1±8.6 13% above U.S. |
| Monroe 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% |
20.9%±7.6 U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Barnard and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.3%±8.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Monroe 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% |
25.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.1%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
9.5%±4.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $97,581±$19k 21% above U.S. |
$88,150±$7kLowest 9% 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. |
$312,700±$58kLowest 6% 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±$80 about the U.S. average |
$1,104±$218Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$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. |
$2,661Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$6,282Highest 101% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27%±19.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48%±39Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
29.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Monroe 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% |
5.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 8% above U.S. |
27 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.3%±10.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
3.2%±2.2Lowest 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 | Monroe 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 → |
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.