Compare towns
Middlesex vs Newark vs Proctor 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).
Newark has the youngest population (median age 41.4).
Proctor has the shortest commute (22 min average).
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 | Newark | Proctor | Westford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,943 |
727Lowest |
1,794 |
2,290Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+0.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.3% VT: +2.8% |
+1.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.4±3.9Highest 3% above VT |
41.4±6Lowest 4% below VT |
42.4±6.4 about the VT average |
44.1±8.6 about the VT average |
| 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 VT: 17.9% |
22%±3Highest VT: 17.9% |
21.8%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
16.9%±4.6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Newark and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
19.9%±5.1 VT: 21.4% |
22.4%±2.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
17.2%±3.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Proctor 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 VT: 43.8% |
41% VT: 43.8% |
28.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
52.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
0.6%±0.6Lowest VT: 7% |
3.6%±1.7 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 |
$72,929±$7kLowest 10% below VT |
$74,167±$12k 9% 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 |
$229,900±$23k 27% below VT |
$209,900±$17kLowest 34% 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±$359 8% above VT |
$1,708±$97 38% above VT |
$1,029±$202Lowest 17% below VT |
$2,375±$1kHighest 92% above VT |
| Westford and Newark 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 |
$3,771Lowest 25% below VT |
$4,032 20% below VT |
$6,282 25% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
7.1%±100 VT: 48.4% |
37.3%±16.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
29.8%±31 VT: 48.4% |
| Proctor 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% |
22.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
16.2% VT: 10.1% |
2.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
90.8% VT: 73.2% |
86.7% VT: 73.2% |
86.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 17% above VT |
34 minHighest 44% above VT |
22 minLowest 6% below VT |
33 min 42% above VT |
| Work from home | 28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.8%±8.2 VT: 16.9% |
9.4%±4.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
19.1%±6.9 VT: 16.9% |
| 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 | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70 | Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Proctor Junior/Senior High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.7 |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.