Compare towns
Westfield vs Acton vs Milford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Westfield has the most affordable homes ($325k median).
Acton has the most people working from home (35.9%).
Milford has the most renters (34.8% rent).
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 | Westfield | Acton | Milford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 40,378Highest |
24,155Lowest |
30,431 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+8.5% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.9±1.8 about the MA average |
44.5±0.8Highest 11% above MA |
38.9±1.8Lowest about the MA average |
| Kids under 18 | 18.1%±2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.7%±2.4 MA: 19.4% |
| Acton and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.7%±1.5 MA: 17.9% |
17.6%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Milford and Westfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
79.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
35.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10%±0.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $87,753±$6kLowest 16% below MA |
$158,230±$14kHighest 52% above MA |
$96,365±$4k 7% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $325,100±$11kLowest 42% below MA |
$807,300±$20kHighest 44% above MA |
$476,700±$12k 15% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,117±$60Lowest 37% below MA |
$1,986±$155Highest 13% above MA |
$1,909±$137 8% above MA |
| Acton and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,746Lowest 21% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$5,869 about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.5%±5.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
47.7%±11.3 MA: 51.8% |
56.8%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Milford and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.7%Highest MA: 10% |
3.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.6% MA: 62.5% |
74.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
65.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Lowest same as MA |
1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 9% below MA |
35 min 19% above MA |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
| Work from home | 8.6%±2.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
35.9%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
14.5%±2.2 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #197 of 282 in MA | #13 of 282 in MA | #213 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Westfield | Acton-Boxborough | Milford |
| High school in town | Westfield High | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | Milford High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9Lowest |
13.5Highest |
11.9Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA 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.