Compare towns
Middlesex vs Springfield vs Chapman 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 most renters (32.3% rent).
Chapman has the most kids (27.6% under 18).
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 | Chapman | Westford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,943 |
9,084Highest |
388Lowest |
2,290 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +1.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
43.2±3.7Lowest 11% above U.S. |
45.7±11.4Highest 17% above U.S. |
44.1±8.6 13% above U.S. |
| Chapman 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% |
18.6%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
27.6%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Chapman 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% |
23.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.6%±3.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Chapman and Springfield 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% |
23.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
22.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6 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. |
$66,571±$13kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$93,125±$17k 15% 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. |
$192,400±$20k 42% below U.S. |
$185,700±$22kLowest 44% below U.S. |
$424,500±$21kHighest 28% above U.S. |
| Westford and Middlesex 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. |
$963±$100Lowest 32% 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. |
$4,807 54% above U.S. |
$1,850Lowest 41% below U.S. |
$6,282 101% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.6%±15.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
29.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Springfield 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% |
14.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1958Lowest 22 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 4% above U.S. |
27 min 3% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 12% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±5.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
4.8%±3.5Lowest 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 | — | #64 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District | — | Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51 |
| High school in town | None in town | Springfield High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.3 |
— | — |
| 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.