What stands out worked out from the figures below

Jackson has the most affordable homes ($235k median).

Westford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.6%).

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	Jackson	Westford
People
Population	1,695Lowest	2,290Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-4.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+1.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	56.9±3.6Highest 46% above U.S.	44.1±8.6Lowest 13% above U.S.
Kids under 18	14.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22%	16.9%±4.6Highest U.S.: 22%
	Westford and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	33.4%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2%	17.2%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	32.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	52.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.8%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	9.5%±4.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$77,375±$8kLowest 4% below U.S.	$112,750±$12kHighest 40% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$235,400±$40kLowest 29% below U.S.	$424,500±$21kHighest 28% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,139±$43Lowest 19% below U.S.	$2,375±$1kHighest 68% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,165Lowest 34% above U.S.	$6,282Highest 101% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	77.8%±44.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%	29.8%±31Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Jackson and Westford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	2.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	91.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	86.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S.	1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minHighest 30% above U.S.	33 minLowest 26% above U.S.
Work from home	11.1%±3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	19.1%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Westford and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	—	Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51
High school in town	—	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.