What stands out worked out from the figures below

Westfield has the most expensive homes ($325k median).

Washburn has the most affordable homes ($113k 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	Westfield	Washburn
People
Population	40,378Highest	1,355Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-9.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	39.9±1.8Lowest about the U.S. average	48.2±7.7Highest 24% above U.S.
	Washburn and Westfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.1%±2Lowest U.S.: 22%	21.7%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22%
	Washburn and Westfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.7%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	24%±3.7Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	33.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	26%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	10%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.6%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$87,753±$6kHighest 9% above U.S.	$56,196±$6kLowest 30% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$325,100±$11kHighest about the U.S. average	$112,900±$14kLowest 66% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,117±$60Highest 21% below U.S.	$482±$62Lowest 66% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,746Highest 52% above U.S.	$1,571Lowest 50% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	46.5%±5.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%	33.3%±24.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Westfield and Washburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	12.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	68.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	78.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1964Lowest 16 yrs older than U.S.	1969Highest 11 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minHighest about the U.S. average	21 minLowest 21% below U.S.
Work from home	8.6%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	9.7%±3.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Washburn and Westfield 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	#197 of 282 in MA	—
School district	Westfield	RSU 45/MSAD 45
High school in town	Westfield High	Washburn District High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.9Lowest	12.0Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

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.