Compare towns
Java vs Westford vs Mina
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Java has grown the fastest since 2010 (-4.1%).
Westford has the most affordable homes ($175k median).
Mina has the most people working from home (12.8%).
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 | Java | Westford | Mina |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,049Highest |
862Lowest |
937 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.1%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-7.4% NY: +4.2% |
-9%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 44.2±5.5Lowest 11% above NY |
48.7±8.1Highest 22% above NY |
45.8±7.9 15% above NY |
| Westford and Mina are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.7%±4.7 NY: 20.5% |
15.5%±2.7Lowest NY: 20.5% |
24%±5.5Highest NY: 20.5% |
| Mina and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.5%±3.6 NY: 17.9% |
26.5%±4.8Highest NY: 17.9% |
18.5%±2.3Lowest NY: 17.9% |
| Westford and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.6%Highest NY: 40.2% |
23% NY: 40.2% |
19.7%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±2.4 NY: 7% |
3.4%±2.2Highest NY: 7% |
2.5%±2.5Lowest NY: 7% |
| Westford and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $95,129±$24kHighest 11% above NY |
$65,625±$18kLowest 24% below NY |
$75,000±$12k 13% below NY |
| Java and Mina are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $223,900±$30kHighest 47% below NY |
$175,000±$27kLowest 59% below NY |
$194,400±$46k 54% below NY |
| Java and Mina are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $863±$419Lowest 47% below NY |
— | $1,271±$308Highest 22% below NY |
| Mina and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,775Highest 43% below NY |
$2,644Lowest 60% below NY |
$2,667 59% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
24.3%±38.5 NY: 52.1% |
31%±62.9Highest NY: 52.1% |
| Mina and Westford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.7%Lowest NY: 14% |
7.9% NY: 14% |
13.4%Highest NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
89.1% NY: 54.3% |
87.2%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 3 yrs older than NY |
1971Highest 12 yrs newer than NY |
1970 11 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 17% below NY |
28 minHighest 14% below NY |
24 minLowest 27% below NY |
| Work from home | 9%±4.4 NY: 14.9% |
7.5%±3.9Lowest NY: 14.9% |
12.8%±9.6Highest NY: 14.9% |
| Mina and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
NY 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.