What stands out worked out from the figures below

Milford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).

Westfield has the most affordable homes ($325k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Milford	Westfield
People
Population	30,431Lowest	40,378Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.5%Highest MA: +7.4%	-0.6%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	38.9±1.8Lowest about the MA average	39.9±1.8Highest about the MA average
	Westfield and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.7%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4%	18.1%±2Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Milford and Westfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.8%±2Highest MA: 17.9%	18.7%±1.5Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Milford and Westfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	35.3%Highest MA: 47.3%	33.2%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.9%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9%	10%±0.9Highest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$96,365±$4kHighest 7% below MA	$87,753±$6kLowest 16% below MA
	Milford and Westfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$476,700±$12kHighest 15% below MA	$325,100±$11kLowest 42% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,909±$137Highest 8% above MA	$1,117±$60Lowest 37% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,869Highest about the MA average	$4,746Lowest 21% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	56.8%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8%	46.5%±5.8Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Milford and Westfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.6%Lowest MA: 10%	10.7%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	65.2%Lowest MA: 62.5%	68.6%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1971Highest 7 yrs newer than MA	1964Lowest same as MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	37 minHighest 27% above MA	27 minLowest 9% below MA
Work from home	14.5%±2.2Highest MA: 18.6%	8.6%±2.2Lowest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#213 of 282 in MA	#197 of 282 in MA
School district	Milford	Westfield
High school in town	Milford High	Westfield High
Students per teacherat that high school	11.9	11.9
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	None yet

MA 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.