Compare towns
Milton vs Lancaster 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.6%).
Lancaster has the most affordable homes ($216k median).
Westford has the most people working from home (19.1%).
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 | Lancaster | Westford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,769Highest |
3,216 |
2,290Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-8.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.6±2.5Lowest 7% above U.S. |
45.5±6.9Highest 17% above U.S. |
44.1±8.6 13% above U.S. |
| Lancaster and Westford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.6%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±6.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Lancaster and Milton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
30.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
9.5%±4.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $118,977±$10kHighest 47% above U.S. |
$68,911±$23kLowest 15% below U.S. |
$112,750±$12k 40% 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 | $372,500±$20k 12% above U.S. |
$215,700±$24kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$424,500±$21kHighest 28% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,536±$257 9% above U.S. |
$1,019±$263Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$2,375±$1kHighest 68% above U.S. |
| Westford and Milton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,610 80% above U.S. |
$4,226Lowest 35% above U.S. |
$6,282Highest 101% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.1%±20.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
36.1%±17 U.S.: 51.1% |
29.8%±31Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Milton and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
16.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1942Lowest 38 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.6%±2.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.1%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Westford and Milton 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 | #56 of 70 in VT | #107 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Milton School District | White Mountains Regional School District | Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51 |
| High school in town | Milton Senior High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.3 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 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.