Compare towns
Middlesex vs Ripton 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 people working from home (28.4%).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Lancaster has the most affordable homes ($201k 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 | Ripton | Lancaster | Westford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,943 |
508Lowest |
2,230 |
2,290Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
47.7±14.2Highest 23% above U.S. |
38.6±8.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
44.1±8.6 13% above U.S. |
| Ripton and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
25.1%±8.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Lancaster 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% |
30.5%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±4.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ripton 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% |
48% U.S.: 35.7% |
23.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
20.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
9.5%±4.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ripton 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 36% above U.S. |
$112,917±$15kHighest 40% above U.S. |
$66,765±$20kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$112,750±$12k 40% above U.S. |
| Ripton 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. |
$394,400±$61k 19% above U.S. |
$200,500±$24kLowest 40% below U.S. |
$424,500±$21kHighest 28% above U.S. |
| Westford and Ripton 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. |
— | $1,036±$221Lowest 27% 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. |
$4,915 58% above U.S. |
$4,225Lowest 35% above U.S. |
$6,282 101% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.9%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±18.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
29.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ripton and Lancaster 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% |
8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
19.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
65.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 4% above U.S. |
24 min 9% below U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±8.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.6%±6.9Lowest 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 | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #107 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | — | 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 | 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.