Compare towns
Westford vs Hingham vs Chelmsford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Westford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.3%).
Hingham has the most expensive homes ($1134k median).
Chelmsford has the most affordable homes ($594k 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.
| Measure | Westford | Hingham | Chelmsford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 24,690 |
24,283Lowest |
36,446Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6% MA: +7.4% |
+7.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±1.2 7% above MA |
48.4±2.4Highest 21% above MA |
41.6±1.9Lowest 4% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 25.6%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
23.4%±2.1 MA: 19.4% |
21.6%±1.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Westford and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14.6%±1.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
26%±2.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.1%±1.5 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 73.9% MA: 47.3% |
76.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
52.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.3%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $187,198±$10kHighest 80% above MA |
$178,390±$15k 72% above MA |
$140,629±$8kLowest 35% above MA |
| Westford and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $748,500±$32k 33% above MA |
$1,134,200±$47kHighest 102% above MA |
$593,700±$17kLowest 6% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,436±$422 38% above MA |
$2,465±$603Highest 40% above MA |
$2,062±$151Lowest 17% above MA |
| Hingham and Westford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,695 62% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$8,047Lowest 34% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53%±8 MA: 51.8% |
60.3%±12Highest MA: 51.8% |
51.7%±10Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Hingham and Westford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.3% MA: 10% |
4.7%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
80.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
82.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 19 yrs newer than MA |
1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 6% above MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
28 minLowest 4% below MA |
| Work from home | 27%±2.9 MA: 18.6% |
33.1%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±2.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Hingham and Westford 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 | #20 of 282 in MA | #14 of 282 in MA | #79 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Nashoba Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Westford | Hingham | Chelmsford |
| High school in town | Westford Academy | Hingham High | Chelmsford High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7Highest |
12.9Lowest |
14.0 |
| 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.