Compare towns
Barnard vs Plainfield 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%).
Plainfield has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Westford has the oldest population (median age 44.1).
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 | Plainfield | Westford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,211Lowest |
2,522Highest |
2,290 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±6 9% above U.S. |
38.9±6.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
44.1±8.6Highest 13% above U.S. |
| 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%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±5.8 U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Barnard and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Barnard and Plainfield 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% |
46.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
9.5%±4.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Westford and Plainfield 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. |
$122,656±$13kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$112,750±$12k 40% above U.S. |
| Plainfield 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±$71kLowest 21% above U.S. |
$442,400±$47kHighest 33% above U.S. |
$424,500±$21k 28% above U.S. |
| Plainfield and Westford 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 |
$1,674±$181 18% above U.S. |
$2,375±$1kHighest 68% above U.S. |
| Westford and Plainfield 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. |
$7,904Highest 153% above U.S. |
$6,282 101% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27%±19.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±23.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
29.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Plainfield 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% |
87.3%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. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.3%±10.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5Lowest 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 | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #19 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Plainfield 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.