Compare towns
Middlesex vs Saco vs Putney 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%).
Saco has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.3%).
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Westford has the highest household income ($113k).
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 | Saco | Putney | Westford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,943Lowest |
20,819Highest |
2,622 |
2,290 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
44.9±1.5Highest 15% above U.S. |
37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
44.1±8.6 13% above U.S. |
| Saco 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% |
16.7%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Middlesex and Saco 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% |
43.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
52.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
9.5%±4.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $109,632±$13k 36% above U.S. |
$92,241±$11k 14% above U.S. |
$79,706±$18kLowest about the U.S. average |
$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±$40k 13% above U.S. |
$413,100±$17k 24% above U.S. |
$300,000±$44kLowest 10% below U.S. |
$424,500±$21kHighest 28% above U.S. |
| Westford and Saco 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. |
$1,249±$385 12% below U.S. |
$508±$482Lowest 64% 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. |
$4,807Lowest 54% above U.S. |
$5,313 70% above U.S. |
$6,282 101% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.3%±14 U.S.: 51.1% |
54.2%±19.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
29.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Putney and Saco 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% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
16%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 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 10% below U.S. |
18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±6.5Lowest 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 | — | #38 of 133 in ME | #32 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Saco Public Schools | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | 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 → | 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.