What stands out worked out from the figures below

Carlisle has the most expensive homes ($1104k median).

Westford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.3%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Carlisle	Westford
People
Population	5,239Lowest	24,690Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.9%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+12.3%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	45.3±3.1Highest 13% above MA	42.8±1.2Lowest 7% above MA
	Carlisle and Westford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	26.4%±5.8Highest MA: 19.4%	25.6%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Carlisle and Westford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21.7%±3.4Highest MA: 17.9%	14.6%±1.9Lowest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	87.2%Highest MA: 47.3%	73.9%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4%±1.9Lowest MA: 7.9%	5.3%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9%
	Westford and Carlisle are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$250,001Highest 140% above MA	$187,198±$10kLowest 80% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$1,103,900±$46kHighest 96% above MA	$748,500±$32kLowest 33% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,313±$855Lowest 25% below MA	$2,436±$422Highest 38% above MA
	Westford and Carlisle are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA	$9,695Lowest 62% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	77%±21.4Highest MA: 51.8%	53%±8Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Carlisle and Westford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	1.5%Lowest MA: 10%	3.2%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	93.6%Highest MA: 62.5%	85.9%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976Lowest 12 yrs newer than MA	1983Highest 19 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	35 minHighest 21% above MA	31 minLowest 6% above MA
Work from home	38.5%±8.2Highest MA: 18.6%	27%±2.9Lowest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#24 of 282 in MA	#20 of 282 in MA
School district	Carlisle	Nashoba Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Westford
High school in town	None in town	Westford Academy
Students per teacherat that high school	—	14.7
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	None yet

MA 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.