Compare towns
Middlesex vs Oakham 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).
Oakham has the oldest population (median age 49).
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 | Oakham | Westford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,943 |
1,639Lowest |
2,290Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
49±2.3Highest 26% above U.S. |
44.1±8.6Lowest 13% above U.S. |
| Oakham 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% |
18.2%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Middlesex and Oakham 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% |
21.4%±2.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Oakham 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
40.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
9.5%±4.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 36% above U.S. |
$102,000±$20kLowest 26% above U.S. |
$112,750±$12kHighest 40% above U.S. |
| 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±$40kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$420,100±$20k 26% above U.S. |
$424,500±$21kHighest 28% above U.S. |
| Westford and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,333±$359 6% below U.S. |
$1,174±$81Lowest 17% below U.S. |
$2,375±$1kHighest 68% above U.S. |
| 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 108% above U.S. |
$4,103Lowest 32% above U.S. |
$6,282 101% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
27.8%±69.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
29.8%±31Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Westford and Oakham 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% |
4.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
39 minHighest 46% above U.S. |
33 min 26% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.6%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.1%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | Quabbin | 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 → |
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.