Compare towns
Milton vs Plainfield vs Westford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Milton has the most expensive homes ($933k median).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($309k median).
Westford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.3%).
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 | Milton | Plainfield | Westford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 28,587Highest |
616Lowest |
24,690 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% MA: +7.4% |
-2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+12.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.1±1.8Lowest about the MA average |
50.6±9.5Highest 27% above MA |
42.8±1.2 7% above MA |
| Plainfield and Westford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 25.3%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
19%±9.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
25.6%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Westford and Milton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.1%±1.8 MA: 17.9% |
29.5%±7.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
14.6%±1.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 71.9% MA: 47.3% |
52.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
73.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9.7%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
5.3%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $188,529±$15kHighest 81% above MA |
$63,500±$14kLowest 39% below MA |
$187,198±$10k 80% above MA |
| Milton and Westford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $933,200±$31kHighest 66% above MA |
$309,000±$47kLowest 45% below MA |
$748,500±$32k 33% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,474±$281 16% below MA |
$1,292±$558Lowest 27% below MA |
$2,436±$422Highest 38% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,677 61% above MA |
$4,458Lowest 26% below MA |
$9,695Highest 62% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.7%±20.9 MA: 51.8% |
40%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
53%±8Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Westford and Milton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.7% MA: 10% |
16.9%Highest MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
98%Highest MA: 62.5% |
85.9% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1945Lowest 19 yrs older than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1983Highest 19 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 8% above MA |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
31 minLowest 6% above MA |
| Work from home | 29.7%±2.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
26.2%±8.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
27%±2.9 MA: 18.6% |
| Milton 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 | #55 of 282 in MA | — | #20 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Milton | — | Nashoba Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Westford |
| High school in town | Milton High | — | Westford Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.4Lowest |
— | 14.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.