Compare towns

Middlesex vs Croydon 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%).
Croydon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).
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.

MeasureMiddlesexCroydonWestford
People
Population
1,943
798Lowest
2,290Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2.8%
U.S.: +7.4%
+4.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+1.6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
44.4±3.9Highest
14% above U.S.
43±9.1Lowest
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%±3.1Highest
U.S.: 22%
19%±6.3
U.S.: 22%
16.9%±4.6Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Middlesex and Croydon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
20.6%±3.7
U.S.: 17.2%
27.4%±3.6Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
17.2%±3.2Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Croydon and Middlesex 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%
21.4%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
52.3%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.2%±2.6
U.S.: 6.4%
4%±3.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
9.5%±4.6Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Westford and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$109,632±$13k
36% above U.S.
$98,333±$21kLowest
22% above U.S.
$112,750±$12kHighest
40% above U.S.
Westford and Middlesex 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.
$317,300±$33kLowest
5% below 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±$359
6% below U.S.
$991±$336Lowest
30% below U.S.
$2,375±$1kHighest
68% above U.S.
Westford and Middlesex 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.
$3,806Lowest
22% above U.S.
$6,282
101% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
0%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
7.1%±75.3
U.S.: 51.1%
29.8%±31Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Westford and Croydon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
3.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
6.4%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
2.5%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
96.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
86.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
86.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1986Highest
6 yrs newer than U.S.
1981Lowest
1 yr newer than U.S.
1982
2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 min
4% above U.S.
26 minLowest
about the U.S. average
33 minHighest
26% above U.S.
Work from home
28.4%±10.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
5.3%±4.9Lowest
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
School district Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 Croydon 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 Our Story None yet None yet None yet

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.