Compare towns
Middlesex vs Newfields vs Salisbury 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 kids (21.3% under 18).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
Salisbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.5%).
Westford has the most renters (13.9% rent).
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 | Newfields | Salisbury | Westford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,943 |
2,023 |
1,200Lowest |
2,290Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
44.1±1.8Lowest 13% above U.S. |
50.6±6.5Highest 30% above U.S. |
44.1±8.6Lowest 13% above U.S. |
| Salisbury 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 U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±1.6 U.S.: 22% |
16.6%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Middlesex and Newfields 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% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.4%±2.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
68.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±7.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.6%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
9.5%±4.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Westford and Newfields 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. |
$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
$99,688±$21kLowest 23% above U.S. |
$112,750±$12k 40% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $376,300±$40k 13% above U.S. |
$646,400±$34kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$306,900±$51kLowest 8% below U.S. |
$424,500±$21k 28% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,333±$359Lowest 6% below U.S. |
$1,875±$323 33% above U.S. |
$1,443±$984 about the U.S. average |
$2,375±$1kHighest 68% above U.S. |
| Westford and Newfields 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. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,842Lowest 55% above U.S. |
$6,282 101% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±40.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.9%±22.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
29.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Newfields and Salisbury 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% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 4% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
19 minLowest 29% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
6%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.1%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex and Newfields 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 | Newfields School District | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.