Compare towns
Milton vs Sheffield vs Westford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Milton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.6%).
Sheffield has the most affordable homes ($172k 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 | Sheffield | Westford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,769Highest |
573Lowest |
2,290 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 41.6±2.5Lowest 3% below VT |
42±8 about the VT average |
44.1±8.6Highest about the VT average |
| Westford and Sheffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.6%±3.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.1%±6.6 VT: 17.9% |
16.9%±4.6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Milton and Sheffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16%±2.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
19.2%±4Highest VT: 21.4% |
17.2%±3.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Sheffield and Westford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.1% VT: 43.8% |
27.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
52.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
5.9%±4.7 VT: 7% |
9.5%±4.6Highest VT: 7% |
| Westford and Sheffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $118,977±$10kHighest 47% above VT |
$58,333±$26kLowest 28% below VT |
$112,750±$12k 39% above VT |
| 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 18% above VT |
$171,900±$50kLowest 46% below VT |
$424,500±$21kHighest 34% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,536±$257 24% above VT |
$967±$79Lowest 22% below VT |
$2,375±$1kHighest 92% above VT |
| 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 11% above VT |
$2,123Lowest 58% below VT |
$6,282Highest 25% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.1%±20.6 VT: 48.4% |
61.5%±41.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
29.8%±31Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Sheffield and Milton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.6% VT: 10.1% |
6.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
2.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
83.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 9 yrs newer than VT |
1987Highest 11 yrs newer than VT |
1982Lowest 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 18% above VT |
30 min 28% above VT |
33 minHighest 42% above VT |
| Work from home | 14.6%±2.9 VT: 16.9% |
6.1%±2.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
19.1%±6.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
| 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 | — | — |
| School district | Milton School District | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | 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 → |
VT 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.