Compare towns
Bolton vs Middlesex vs Westford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bolton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.1%).
Middlesex has the most kids (21.3% under 18).
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.
| Measure | Bolton | Middlesex | Westford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,163Lowest |
1,943 |
2,290Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8% VT: +2.8% |
+1.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 36.3±1.7Lowest 16% below VT |
44.4±3.9Highest 3% above VT |
44.1±8.6 about the VT average |
| Middlesex and Westford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.9%±4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.9%±4.6 VT: 17.9% |
| Middlesex and Westford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 6.7%±2.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
17.2%±3.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Middlesex and Westford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 58.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
54.7% VT: 43.8% |
52.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.8Lowest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
9.5%±4.6Highest VT: 7% |
| Westford and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $111,125±$17k 37% above VT |
$109,632±$13kLowest 35% above VT |
$112,750±$12kHighest 39% above VT |
| Westford and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $311,600±$42kLowest about the VT average |
$376,300±$40k 19% above VT |
$424,500±$21kHighest 34% above VT |
| Westford and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,299±$273Lowest 5% above VT |
$1,333±$359 8% above VT |
$2,375±$1kHighest 92% above VT |
| Westford and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,826Lowest 4% below VT |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$6,282 25% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 28%±30.8 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
29.8%±31Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Westford and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.9% VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
2.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1982Lowest 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 17% above VT |
27 minLowest 17% above VT |
33 minHighest 42% above VT |
| Work from home | 22.9%±8.2 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
19.1%±6.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | 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 Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
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.