Compare towns
Middlesex vs Plainfield vs Newfields 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 people working from home (28.4%).
Plainfield has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
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 | Plainfield | Newfields | Westford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,943Lowest |
2,522Highest |
2,023 |
2,290 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.4±3.9Highest 14% above U.S. |
38.9±6.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
44.1±1.8 13% above U.S. |
44.1±8.6 13% 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% |
23.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±1.6 U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±3.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Middlesex and Plainfield 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% |
46.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
68.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±7.2 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±$13kLowest 36% above U.S. |
$122,656±$13k 52% above U.S. |
$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
$112,750±$12k 40% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $376,300±$40kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$442,400±$47k 33% above U.S. |
$646,400±$34kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$424,500±$21k 28% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,333±$359Lowest 6% below U.S. |
$1,674±$181 18% above U.S. |
$1,875±$323 33% above U.S. |
$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. |
$7,904 153% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,282Lowest 101% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±23.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±40.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
29.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Newfields and Plainfield 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% |
5.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 4% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7 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 | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #19 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Plainfield School District | Newfields School District | 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 | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.