Compare towns
Milton vs Williston 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
Milton has the most expensive homes ($933k median).
Williston has the most affordable homes ($476k median).
Westford has the most kids (25.6% under 18).
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 | Williston | Westford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 28,587Highest |
10,144Lowest |
24,690 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.1±1.8Lowest 6% above U.S. |
45.4±4.5Highest 17% above U.S. |
42.8±1.2 10% above U.S. |
| Williston 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 U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
25.6%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.6%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Williston and Milton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 71.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
73.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9.7%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $188,529±$15kHighest 134% above U.S. |
$106,967±$12kLowest 32% above U.S. |
$187,198±$10k 132% above U.S. |
| 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 180% above U.S. |
$475,800±$40kLowest 43% above U.S. |
$748,500±$32k 125% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,474±$281Lowest 4% above U.S. |
$1,832±$130 30% above U.S. |
$2,436±$422Highest 72% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,677 210% above U.S. |
$5,592Lowest 79% above U.S. |
$9,695Highest 211% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.7%±20.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
53%±8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Westford and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1945Lowest 35 yrs older than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 19% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 29.7%±2.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27%±2.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #11 of 70 in VT | #20 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Milton | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Nashoba Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Westford |
| High school in town | Milton High | None in town | Westford Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.4Lowest |
— | 14.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.