Compare towns
Waltham vs Westford vs Panton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Waltham has the oldest population (median age 60.8).
Westford has the highest household income ($113k).
Panton has the most kids (24.9% 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 | Waltham | Westford | Panton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 452Lowest |
2,290Highest |
690 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +1.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 60.8±7.3Highest 41% above VT |
44.1±8.6 about the VT average |
42.7±3.8Lowest about the VT average |
| Kids under 18 | 12.8%±7.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
16.9%±4.6 VT: 17.9% |
24.9%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Panton and Westford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 45.4%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
17.2%±3.2 VT: 21.4% |
16.7%±2.9Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39% VT: 43.8% |
52.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
35.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
9.5%±4.6Highest VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Westford and Waltham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $97,500±$14k 20% above VT |
$112,750±$12kHighest 39% above VT |
$86,667±$10kLowest 7% above VT |
| Westford and Waltham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $329,700±$51kLowest 4% above VT |
$424,500±$21k 34% above VT |
$438,000±$40kHighest 38% above VT |
| Panton and Westford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,096±$113Lowest 11% below VT |
$2,375±$1kHighest 92% above VT |
$1,410±$130 14% above VT |
| Westford and Panton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,714Lowest 13% above VT |
$6,282 25% above VT |
$6,695Highest 33% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.2%±58.6Lowest VT: 48.4% |
29.8%±31 VT: 48.4% |
61%±39Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Panton and Westford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
2.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
3.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.1% VT: 73.2% |
83.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 18% above VT |
33 minHighest 42% above VT |
26 minLowest 11% above VT |
| Work from home | 20.6%±5.7 VT: 16.9% |
19.1%±6.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
26.7%±8.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Panton and Waltham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51 | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | None yet |
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.