Compare towns
Middlesex vs Barnstead 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
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Barnstead has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7%).
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 | Middlesex | Barnstead | Westford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,943Lowest |
4,994Highest |
2,290 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.4±3.9Highest 14% above U.S. |
42.8±3.1Lowest 10% above U.S. |
44.1±8.6 13% above U.S. |
| Middlesex and Westford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
21%±5 U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Middlesex and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±3.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±4.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
9.5%±4.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Westford and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $109,632±$13kLowest 36% above U.S. |
$111,660±$12k 38% above U.S. |
$112,750±$12kHighest 40% above U.S. |
| Westford and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $376,300±$40k 13% above U.S. |
$362,400±$25kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$424,500±$21kHighest 28% above U.S. |
| Westford and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,333±$359Lowest 6% below U.S. |
$1,395±$75 about the U.S. average |
$2,375±$1kHighest 68% above U.S. |
| Westford and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
$6,003Lowest 92% above U.S. |
$6,282 101% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.6%±50.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
29.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Barnstead and Westford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
31 min 18% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.1%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex and Westford 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 | — | #111 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Barnstead School District | 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.