Compare towns
Middlesex vs Northfield 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%).
Northfield has the most affordable homes ($274k median).
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 | Northfield | Westford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,943Lowest |
5,920Highest |
2,290 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.4±3.9Highest 3% above VT |
36.4±4.1Lowest 16% below VT |
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%±3.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±3.7Lowest 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% |
20%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
17.2%±3.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Middlesex and Northfield 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% |
34.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
52.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.6Lowest VT: 7% |
15.1%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
9.5%±4.6 VT: 7% |
| Northfield and Westford 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 |
$71,768±$13kLowest 12% 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 |
$274,400±$21kLowest 13% 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 |
$1,018±$207Lowest 18% below 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 |
$4,878Lowest 3% below VT |
$6,282 25% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±17.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
29.8%±31 VT: 48.4% |
| Northfield 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% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
2.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
73.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1956Lowest 20 yrs older than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 17% above VT |
27 minLowest 16% above VT |
33 minHighest 42% above VT |
| Work from home | 28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±4.3Lowest 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 | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #42 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51 |
| High school in town | None in town | Northfield Middle/High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.0 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
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.