Compare towns
Westfield vs Middlesex vs Lowell vs Guildhall
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Westfield has the most renters (8.3% rent).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Lowell has the most affordable homes ($183k median).
Guildhall has the shortest commute (25 min average).
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 | Middlesex | Lowell | Guildhall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 536 |
1,943Highest |
1,070 |
371Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+0.9% VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 44±19.9 about the VT average |
44.4±3.9Highest 3% above VT |
32.9±6.5Lowest 24% below VT |
42.6±7.8 about the VT average |
| Middlesex 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 VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
30.7%±6.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
22.6%±7.5 VT: 17.9% |
| 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 VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
12.3%±4.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
26.1%±5.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Westfield and Guildhall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 27.3% VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
19.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
33.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±2.5 VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
2.8%±1.9 VT: 7% |
1.1%±3.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Middlesex 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±$30k 11% below VT |
$109,632±$13k 35% above VT |
$57,404±$15kLowest 29% below VT |
$115,000±$46kHighest 42% above VT |
| Guildhall and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $301,400±$47k 5% below VT |
$376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
$183,400±$33kLowest 42% below VT |
$321,200±$62k about the VT average |
| Middlesex and Guildhall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $863±$187 30% below VT |
$1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
$945±$46 23% below VT |
$850±$717Lowest 31% below VT |
| Middlesex and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,388 13% below VT |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$2,810Lowest 44% below VT |
$4,625 8% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.7%±71.3 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
26.3%±92.9 VT: 48.4% |
75%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Guildhall 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 VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.6% VT: 10.1% |
11.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
94.1% VT: 73.2% |
93.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
1958Lowest 18 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 29% above VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
55 minHighest 135% above VT |
25 minLowest 7% above VT |
| Work from home | 14.4%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
7.5%±2.3 VT: 16.9% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Westfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | 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 | 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.