Compare towns
Middlesex vs Westford vs Wright vs Calais
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%).
Westford has the most expensive homes ($425k median).
Wright has the most affordable homes ($242k median).
Calais has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.4%).
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 | Westford | Wright | Calais |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,943 |
2,290Highest |
1,739 |
1,713Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
44.1±8.6 13% above U.S. |
51.4±4.7Highest 32% above U.S. |
42±8.6Lowest 8% above U.S. |
| Wright 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% |
16.9%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
16.7%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.5%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Calais 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% |
17.2%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±1.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Calais and Wright are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
52.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
24.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
9.5%±4.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.4%±3.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Westford and Calais 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. |
$112,750±$12kHighest 40% above U.S. |
$86,250±$13kLowest 7% above U.S. |
$100,625±$27k 25% 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. |
$424,500±$21kHighest 28% above U.S. |
$242,000±$36kLowest 27% below U.S. |
$390,300±$36k 17% above U.S. |
| Westford and Calais 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. |
$2,375±$1kHighest 68% above U.S. |
$953±$79Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,408±$392 about the U.S. average |
| Westford and Calais 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. |
$6,282 101% above U.S. |
$5,279Lowest 69% above U.S. |
$6,586Highest 111% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
29.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.6%±16.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
49%±38.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Calais and Wright 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% |
2.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
31 min 18% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.1%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
5.9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.4%±7.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex and Calais 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 | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | None yet | None yet |
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.