What stands out worked out from the figures below

Newfields has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.3%).

Westford has the most affordable homes ($425k 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	Newfields	Westford
People
Population	2,023Lowest	2,290Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+1.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	44.1±1.8 13% above U.S.	44.1±8.6 13% above U.S.
Kids under 18	18.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 22%	16.9%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Newfields and Westford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	17.2%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Westford and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	68.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	52.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	7.5%±7.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	9.5%±4.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Westford and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S.	$112,750±$12kLowest 40% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$646,400±$34kHighest 94% above U.S.	$424,500±$21kLowest 28% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,875±$323Lowest 33% above U.S.	$2,375±$1kHighest 68% above U.S.
	Westford and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S.	$6,282Lowest 101% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	43.3%±40.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%	29.8%±31Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Newfields and Westford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	2.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	86.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S.	1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minLowest about the U.S. average	33 minHighest 26% above U.S.
Work from home	25.5%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%	19.1%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Newfields and Westford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Newfields School District	Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.