Compare towns
Middlesex vs Jackson vs Calais 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%).
Jackson has the most affordable homes ($235k median).
Calais has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.4%).
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 | Jackson | Calais | Westford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,943 |
1,695Lowest |
1,713 |
2,290Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
56.9±3.6Highest 46% above U.S. |
42±8.6Lowest 8% above U.S. |
44.1±8.6 13% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.5%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Calais and Middlesex 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% |
33.4%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
32.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.4%±3.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
9.5%±4.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Westford and Calais 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. |
$77,375±$8kLowest 4% below U.S. |
$100,625±$27k 25% 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. |
$235,400±$40kLowest 29% below U.S. |
$390,300±$36k 17% above U.S. |
$424,500±$21kHighest 28% above U.S. |
| Westford and Calais 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. |
$1,139±$43Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,408±$392 about the U.S. average |
$2,375±$1kHighest 68% above U.S. |
| Westford and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,483 108% above U.S. |
$4,165Lowest 34% above U.S. |
$6,586Highest 111% above U.S. |
$6,282 101% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
77.8%±44.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
49%±38.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
29.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Jackson and Calais 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% |
7.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
31 min 18% above U.S. |
33 min 26% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.4%±7.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.1%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex and Calais 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 | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | 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 | 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.