Compare towns
Middlesex vs Charlton 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%).
Charlton has the most kids (24.7% under 18).
Westford has the oldest housing (typical home built 1982).
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 | Charlton | Westford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,943Lowest |
13,435Highest |
2,290 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.4±3.9Highest 14% above U.S. |
43±4Lowest 11% 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%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
24.7%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Charlton and Middlesex 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% |
18%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Middlesex and Charlton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.8%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
9.5%±4.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Westford and Charlton 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. |
$117,587±$8kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$112,750±$12k 40% above U.S. |
| Charlton and Westford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $376,300±$40kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$427,500±$19kHighest 28% above U.S. |
$424,500±$21k 28% above U.S. |
| Charlton and Westford 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. |
$1,381±$415 about the U.S. average |
$2,375±$1kHighest 68% above U.S. |
| Westford and Charlton 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. |
$4,617Lowest 48% above U.S. |
$6,282 101% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.3%±9.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
29.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Charlton 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% |
2.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.1% 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. |
33 min 24% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±4.2Lowest 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 | — | #133 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Dudley-Charlton Reg · Southern Worcester County Regional Vocational School Distric | Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51 |
| High school in town | None in town | Bay Path Regional Vocational Technical High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.7 |
— |
| 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.