Westford is the best for you! The town was founded in 1729. From the late 18th century onward, it was a vibrant factory and industrial town, playing a role in granite and yarn production and farming. Since the 1970s, Westford is known as a hub for technology companies like Samsung and Seagate, and is a very nice place to live, with safe streets, luxurious homes for sale, and convenient access to ponds and green spaces; Money Magazine ranked Westford in the top 50 places to live in America in 2021.
But before you can start moving to Westford, you should think about what living in Westford MA is like. Here’s everything you need to know about this thriving small town!
Table of Contents
Where Is Westford?
Westford is in Middlesex County, inside the Boston metro area and a suburb of Lowell. The town borders Chelmsford, Littleton, and Gorton. Westford has paved roads and well-built homes throughout the community, but many yards and lots are spacious and filled with trees, making the community feel undeveloped, quaint, and rural. It is 27 miles from Westford MA to Boston MA.
Westford Massachusetts does not have access to the MBTA, but the Lowell Regional Transit Authority runs buses with stops in Westford. Route 15 is the main bus route in the town, connecting the town to Lowell and Littleton. If you’re moving to Westford and you would prefer to drive, you can use Interstate 495 to drive directly into town.
Westford Population and Demographics
The population of Westford in 2020 was 24,638. The population grew by 12.3% between 2010 and 2020, and the town has a population density of 814.8 people per square mile. Notable people from Westford include Aaron Stanford, John Robinson, and Ellen Swallow Richards.
Westford MA demographics include:
- 50.8% female, 49.2% male
- Median age: 42.2
- Racial and ethnic composition: 73.3% White alone, 21.6% Asian alone, 3.0% two or more races, 2.9% Hispanic or Latino, 0.6% Black or African American alone, 0.1% American Indian and Alaska Native alone
- Median household income: $161,076 (1.8 times the state median)
- Educational attainment: 98.5% of residents have graduated high school, 72.6% have a bachelor’s degree or higher
- Foreign-born population: 18.8%
Westford is a very safe place to live. Here are the 2020 crime rates from the FBI:
- Total crime rate: 260 offenses per 100,000 people (80.9% lower than Massachusetts’s average, 88.9% lower than the national average)
- Violent crime rate: 16 offenses per 100,000 residents (94.8% lower than Massachusetts’s average, 95.9% lower than America’s average)
- Property crime rate: 244 offenses per 100,000 residents (76.8% lower than the state, 87.5% lower than the country)
The Westford Police Department employs 48 officers at a rate of two officers per 1,000 residents.
Cost of Living in Westford
You can use the cost of living statistics for Boston and Lowell to determine the cost of living in Westford. Boston’s cost of living index is 153.2; items in the Boston metro area cost 53.2% more than the national average. According to the Economic Policy Institute, a family of four would need to earn $114,499 annually to afford to live in Lowell and Westford. Westford is more expensive than the national average, but it is one of the cheaper towns or cities near Boston.
Westford real estate is also more expensive than the national average, though it is affordable by Boston’s standards. According to Redfin, Westford MA homes for sale have a median sale price of $678,500. According to RentCafe, the average rent of Westford apartments is $2,703 a month.
Typical Westford Living Expenses
- 1 meal at an inexpensive restaurant: $22.50
- 1 gallon of regular milk: $3.20
- 1 pound of onions: $1.99
- 1 gallon of gasoline: $3.60
- Average Westford utilities per month: $202.50
- 1 pair of Nike running shoes: $77.50
Source: Numbeo
*Statistics for Lowell
Westford Neighborhoods | Where to Live in Westford
Westford has a few small neighborhoods and historic districts, some of which have great choices for a Westford house. Here are a couple of the best places to live in Westford.
Nabnasset | Best Westford neighborhood for outdoor activities
Nabnasset is best known for Nabnasset Pond, a 142-acre pond open to the public for fishing, boating, and swimming. Nabnasset Lake Country Club is just east of the pond, offering a nine-hole golf course for Westford residents. You can find a house for sale in Westford MA facing the pond; three-bedroom homes covering more than 1,400 square feet are for available for less than $500,000.
Graniteville | Diverse options for Westford homes for sale
Graniteville Westford MA is one of Westford’s oldest villages, but many homes in the area are newly-constructed. You can purchase three and four-bedroom homes covering more than 2,500 square feet with modern features like private master bathrooms for $1 million. If you prefer older homes, you can find four-bedroom properties from the 1850s covering more than 4,000 feet. Living in Graniteville gives you access to quaint stores and beautiful green spaces, including American Legion Field.
Weather in Westford MA
Westford has a humid continental climate with warm summers and freezing winters. July is the hottest month, with an average temperature of 73 degrees and an average high of 83. January is the coldest month, with average lows reaching 19 degrees.
The town is in a cloudy area; September is the clearest month, but only 62% of days in September have clear, mostly clear, or partly cloudy skies. The community experiences more than 100 rainy or snowy days every year, with 36.3 inches of rain and 43.7 inches of snow on average every year. September is the best month to visit Westford; the average temperature is 63 degrees, so you can enjoy the sunny days in a long-sleeved shirt without a jacket or coat. Westford weather is not extreme, but you can experience blizzards and snowstorms while living in Westford MA.
Things to Do in Westford MA
Westford is a major hub for family-friendly attractions in Middlesex County. You and your kids can go shopping at Cornerstone Square Westford MA, an open-air retail complex that contains a Market Basket and a HomeGoods. You can also enjoy Westford Valley Marketplace, which has a Whole Foods Market and several restaurants.
Nashoba Valley Ski Area
Nashoba Valley has 17 skiing trails and a tubing park with 16 runs. In the summertime, Nashoba is open for 5k running and volleyball tournaments, making it an all-year place of interest for outdoor activities.
79 Powers Road, Westford, MA 01886 978-692-3033
Kimball Farm
Kimball Farm is a kid-friendly entertainment center with mini golf courses, batting cages, zip lines, and bumper carts. When you’re hungry, you and your family can enjoy more than 50 flavors of ice cream at a cozy ice cream parlor.
400 Littleton Road, Westford, MA 01886 978-486-3891
The Butterfly Place
The Butterfly Place is an indoor botanical garden home to butterflies from all over the world. It’s also a beautiful and popular venue for weddings and birthday parties between February and October.
120 Tyngsboro Road, Westford, MA 01886 978-392-0955
Additional attractions in Westford
Westford Recreation runs special events and educational courses throughout the year. You can use this calendar to see what programs they are hosting.
Restaurants in Westford MA
The Boston area may be best known for seafood and frappes. But Westford MA restaurants are extremely diverse, and you can find options for romantic nights out and family-friendly occasions.
Karma Westford
Karma Westford is one of the most popular Chinese restaurants in Westford MA. It is a fusion restaurant combining Chinese, Japanese, and Korean food, serving dozens of dishes in a casual environment.
174 Littleton Road, Westford, MA 01886 978-692-6920
Evviva Trattoria
Evviva is a trendy Italian restaurant that serves paninis, pizza, pasta, and salads. Adults can enjoy more than one dozen cocktails and a line of craft beers from local breweries.
7 Cornerstone Square, Westford, MA 01886 978-692-9050
Burtons Grill and Bar
Burtons Grill is an upscale, classy American restaurant perfect for dates and client dinners. You can enjoy steak, pasta, and soup with martinis, wines, and beers. Burtons also has a gluten-free menu and can modify any recipe for allergy restrictions.
1 Cornerstone Square, Westford, MA 01886 978-692-1220
Jobs in Westford MA
71% of Westford residents older than 16 are currently in the workforce. According to PayScale, Westford workers earn an average salary of $98,000 a year and an hourly rate of $22.91. Westford had nearly $1.2 billion in retail sales and nearly 750 businesses in 2017. Westford’s largest industries in terms of employment are computer systems, education, and hospitals.
Major employers include AECOM C&E, Kadant, and NetScout Systems. You can find Westford MA jobs using Indeed, and Town of Westford jobs are available to the public.
Westford Schools
Westford Public Schools is the main Westford school system and one of the best Boston school districts. Westford Academy is the most famous school in the community. It’s one of the oldest public high schools in the country, founded in 1792. It has a graduation rate of 99%, and 97% of students test at or above the proficiency level in science.
Westford does not contain any major private schools or colleges. University of Massachusetts Lowell is less than 10 miles away, and some students live in Westford. The college offers more than 100 undergraduate majors and dozens of master’s and doctoral programs, making it a good choice for older learners looking to advance their careers.
The J.V. Fletcher Library has won awards from the Town of Westford and the Massachusetts Library Association. The library has an extensive collection of books, but you can also rent out computers, telescopes, and electricity usage monitors.
Westford Statistics and Information
- County: Middlesex
- Westford area: 31.3 square miles
- Westford MA zip code: 01886
- Westford area codes: 351 and 978
- Westford elevation: 406 feet
- Westford time zone: Eastern Standard Time (EST)
- Closest airport to Westford: Boston Logan International Airport (BOS), 32 miles from Westford
Westford Mass Map
You can find more Westford homes for sale, exciting things to do, and cozy restaurants using this map of Westford Mass!
Forward to Westford! Families will love Westford for its safe streets, fun attractions, and family-friendly eateries. Single professionals and couples will love the beautiful homes and nice weather all throughout the year.
But before you can start living in Westford, you must figure out moving to Westford. Mass Bay Movers has an experienced team of Westford movers waiting to work for you. Get a free moving quote by calling 978-587-3775.
