Compare towns
Westfield vs Appleton vs Lowell
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Westfield has the most people working from home (14.4%).
Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Lowell has the youngest population (median age 32.9).
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 | Appleton | Lowell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 536Lowest |
1,360Highest |
1,070 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44±19.9 13% above U.S. |
49.2±7.4Highest 26% above U.S. |
32.9±6.5Lowest 15% below U.S. |
| Appleton and Westfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 27.1%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
30.7%±6.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Lowell and Westfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 29.7%±11.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±9.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
12.3%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Westfield and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 27.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
19.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Appleton and Westfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $72,500±$30kHighest 10% below U.S. |
$53,618±$19kLowest 34% below U.S. |
$57,404±$15k 29% below U.S. |
| Westfield and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $301,400±$47kHighest 9% below U.S. |
$235,600±$33k 29% below U.S. |
$183,400±$33kLowest 45% below U.S. |
| Westfield and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $863±$187Lowest 39% below U.S. |
$1,104±$82Highest 22% below U.S. |
$945±$46 33% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,388Highest 41% above U.S. |
$3,588 15% above U.S. |
$2,810Lowest 10% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.7%±71.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
26.3%±92.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Appleton and Westfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 15% above U.S. |
30 minLowest 14% above U.S. |
55 minHighest 109% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.4%±6.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.5%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Westfield and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Appleton Public Schools | Lowell School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.