Compare towns
Middlesex vs Jay vs Westford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Middlesex has the most kids (21.3% under 18).
Jay has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
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.
| Measure | Middlesex | Jay | Westford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,943 |
471Lowest |
2,290Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8% VT: +2.8% |
+5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
44.1±8.6Lowest about the VT average |
| Jay and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±3.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.2%±7.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
16.9%±4.6 VT: 17.9% |
| Middlesex and Westford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±3.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
17.2%±3.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Middlesex and Westford 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 VT: 43.8% |
45.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
52.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
9.5%±4.6Highest VT: 7% |
| 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 35% above VT |
$74,792±$25kLowest 8% below VT |
$112,750±$12kHighest 39% above VT |
| 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 19% above VT |
$234,200±$45kLowest 26% below VT |
$424,500±$21kHighest 34% above VT |
| 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 8% above VT |
— | $2,375±$1kHighest 92% above VT |
| 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 29% above VT |
$3,588Lowest 29% below VT |
$6,282 25% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
40%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
29.8%±31 VT: 48.4% |
| Jay and Westford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.8% VT: 10.1% |
8.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
2.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.7% VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 10 yrs newer than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1982Lowest 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 17% above VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
33 min 42% above VT |
| Work from home | 28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7 VT: 16.9% |
19.1%±6.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Jay 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 | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary 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 → |
VT 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.