Compare towns
Middlesex vs Putney vs Lancaster 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 homeowners (96.7%).
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Lancaster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).
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 | Putney | Lancaster | Westford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,943Lowest |
2,622 |
8,606Highest |
2,290 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.4±3.9Highest 14% above U.S. |
37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
43.1±4.9 11% above U.S. |
44.1±8.6 13% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Middlesex and Lancaster 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% |
18.1%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Middlesex and Lancaster 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% |
48.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
52.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
9.5%±4.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $109,632±$13k 36% above U.S. |
$79,706±$18kLowest about the U.S. average |
$134,833±$27kHighest 67% above U.S. |
$112,750±$12k 40% above U.S. |
| Lancaster and Westford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $376,300±$40k 13% above U.S. |
$300,000±$44kLowest 10% below U.S. |
$519,100±$60kHighest 56% above U.S. |
$424,500±$21k 28% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,333±$359 6% below U.S. |
$508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
$2,338±$539 65% above U.S. |
$2,375±$1kHighest 68% above U.S. |
| Westford and Lancaster 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. |
$5,313Lowest 70% above U.S. |
$7,235Highest 132% above U.S. |
$6,282 101% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.2%±19.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
29.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lancaster and Putney 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% |
16%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 4% above U.S. |
18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 28.4%±10.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±6.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.1%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lancaster and Middlesex 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 | — | #32 of 70 in VT | #145 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Nashoba | 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.