Compare towns

Middlesex vs Upton 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%).
Upton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).

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.

MeasureMiddlesexUptonPutneyWestford
People
Population
1,943Lowest
8,189Highest
2,622
2,290
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2.8%
U.S.: +7.4%
+6.1%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.
46.4±4.8Highest
19% above U.S.
37.2±5.2Lowest
4% below U.S.
44.1±8.6
13% above U.S.
Upton 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%
23.2%±4.5Highest
U.S.: 22%
15.4%±4.1Lowest
U.S.: 22%
16.9%±4.6
U.S.: 22%
Upton 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%
20.7%±4.9Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
18.1%±3.8
U.S.: 17.2%
17.2%±3.2Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Upton 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%
53.5%
U.S.: 35.7%
48.6%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
52.3%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.2%±2.6
U.S.: 6.4%
2.4%±1.3Lowest
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.
$155,508±$33kHighest
93% above U.S.
$79,706±$18kLowest
about the U.S. average
$112,750±$12k
40% above U.S.
Upton 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.
$576,700±$41kHighest
73% above U.S.
$300,000±$44kLowest
10% below U.S.
$424,500±$21k
28% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,333±$359
6% below U.S.
$948±$599
33% 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
$6,483
108% above U.S.
$8,376Highest
169% above U.S.
$5,313Lowest
70% above U.S.
$6,282
101% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
0%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
52.8%±31
U.S.: 51.1%
54.2%±19.4Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
29.8%±31
U.S.: 51.1%
Putney and Upton 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%
3.2%
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%
86.7%
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.
1981
1 yr 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.
35 minHighest
34% above U.S.
18 minLowest
32% below U.S.
33 min
26% above U.S.
Work from home
28.4%±10.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
22.8%±5.3
U.S.: 15.1%
16.9%±6.5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
19.1%±6.9
U.S.: 15.1%
Middlesex and Upton 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 — #46 of 282 in MA #32 of 70 in VT —
School district Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51
High school in town None in town Blackstone Valley None in town None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
11.2
— —
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet None yet 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.