Compare towns
Barnard vs Salisbury 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).
Salisbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.5%).
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 | Salisbury | Westford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,211Lowest |
9,281Highest |
2,290 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±6Lowest 9% above U.S. |
51.3±3.5Highest 32% above U.S. |
44.1±8.6 13% above U.S. |
| Salisbury 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% |
13.1%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 22%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Salisbury 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% |
43.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
9.5%±4.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Westford and Salisbury 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. |
$93,361±$6kLowest 16% 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±$71kLowest 21% above U.S. |
$478,700±$27kHighest 44% above U.S. |
$424,500±$21k 28% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,372±$80Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,691±$411 20% above U.S. |
$2,375±$1kHighest 68% above U.S. |
| Westford and Salisbury 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. |
$4,604Lowest 48% above U.S. |
$6,282Highest 101% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27%±19.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
61.9%±11.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
29.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Salisbury 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%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 8% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.3%±10.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.1%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Salisbury and Barnard 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 | — | #240 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Triton | 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.