Compare towns
Middlesex vs Newfields vs Westford vs Calais
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%).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
Westford has the most renters (13.9% rent).
Calais has the most kids (22.5% under 18).
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 | Westford | Calais |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,943 |
2,023 |
2,290Highest |
1,713Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.4±3.9Highest 14% above U.S. |
44.1±1.8 13% above U.S. |
44.1±8.6 13% above U.S. |
42±8.6Lowest 8% above U.S. |
| Middlesex and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±1.6 U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.5%±5.4Highest 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% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Calais 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
68.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±7.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
9.5%±4.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.4%±3.4 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. |
$112,750±$12k 40% above U.S. |
$100,625±$27kLowest 25% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $376,300±$40kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$646,400±$34kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$424,500±$21k 28% above U.S. |
$390,300±$36k 17% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,333±$359Lowest 6% below U.S. |
$1,875±$323 33% above U.S. |
$2,375±$1kHighest 68% above U.S. |
$1,408±$392 about the U.S. average |
| 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. |
$6,282Lowest 101% above U.S. |
$6,586 111% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±40.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
29.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
49%±38.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Calais and Newfields 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% |
2.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older 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. |
31 min 18% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.1%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.4%±7.1 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 | Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| 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 → | 6 photos → | 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.