Compare towns
Middlesex vs Springfield vs Windham 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%).
Springfield has the oldest population (median age 51.4).
Windham has the most affordable homes ($354k 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 | Springfield | Windham | Westford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,943 |
1,122 |
594Lowest |
2,290Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +1.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
51.4±8.8Highest 32% above U.S. |
44.2±7.4 14% above U.S. |
44.1±8.6Lowest 13% above U.S. |
| Springfield 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% |
15.1%±8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.5%±7.9 U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Middlesex and Windham 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% |
19.8%±1.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.2%±8.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Windham 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% |
36.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
52.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
0%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.8%±1.1 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. |
$100,893±$19k 25% above U.S. |
$94,500±$12kLowest 17% 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±$40k 13% above U.S. |
$384,100±$50k 15% above U.S. |
$353,900±$20kLowest 6% above U.S. |
$424,500±$21kHighest 28% above U.S. |
| Westford and Springfield 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. |
$1,096±$217Lowest 22% 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. |
$5,946Lowest 91% above U.S. |
$5,951 91% above U.S. |
$6,282 101% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
25.9%±64.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±94Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
29.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windham and Westford 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% |
3.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 4% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
33 min 26% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.5%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.1%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex and Windham 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 | — | — | Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51 |
| High school 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.