Massachusetts Real Estate & Relocation Guide

Westford, Massachusetts

Population: 20,754

Located in Middlesex County

People have always been drawn to rivers. They choose to live, work and enjoy life in places fed by bountiful waters. The power and promise of the Merrimack led to the settlement of the area near the Pawtucket Falls by native peoples and to the founding of a new city in the 19th century. Westford, with rolling hills, lakes, and apple orchards, is that beautiful town.

Originally Westford was noted for its farms and woolen mills, but today is mostly a bedroom community with an emphasis on high tech. It has a beautiful state-of-the-art library, a thriving community center with offerings for all ages, an active recreation department, an excellent school system, the Nashoba Valley Ski Area, and two town beaches on spring-fed ponds.

While Westford maintains many of the amenities of a larger city, it prides itself on its small-town feeling. Neighbors know neighbors. People say hello to one another. The city neighborhoods are a wonderful blend of older and newer homes. A variety of styles --Victorians, colonials, capes and ranches --are represented. Besides the selection of single-family homes, two- and three-family units are also available, and innovative re-use of former mills has led to the development of executive-class apartments and condominiums within walking distance of Westford's many cultural amenities. Multiple residences on a single lot, a particularly threatened type of historic housing resource in many Eastern Massachusetts towns, can still be seen in the villages of Forge Village and Graniteville. Most of Westford's multiple-residence properties date to the turn of the century.

Open space is linked so closely with Westford's identity and sense of place that it has served as a consistent theme in local planning efforts for at least three decades. When residents speak of Westford's open space, they mention not only areas left in a natural state such as forests and ponds, but also those created or maintained for productive or aesthetic purposes, such as farmland and the town common. The Westford Conservation Trust has actively promoted the town's trail system by contacting conservation trusts in all neighboring towns to coordinate trail efforts and connections. Westford has also been actively involved in the clearing and promotion of the Bruce Freeman Trail linking Lowell to Sudbury. All of these lands serve multiple functions, from protecting natural resources and scenic vistas to providing recreational opportunities. As Westford continues to evolve, preserving open space will be critical to the town's quality of life, the diversity and health of its natural resources, and its economic stability.

The presence of 34 playgrounds in the city, plus year-round recreational programs, demonstrates Westford's commitment to serving young people's recreational needs. Youth sports include basketball, baseball, cheerleading, flag football, football, ice hockey, lacrosse, soccer, softball, and wrestling. Adult organizations include baseball, soccer, and softball. Whether you are a spectator or a participant, Westford's recreational scene, with its organized sports, river activities, and nature parks, will keep you busy.

The elements that make up a quality neighborhood are as diverse as the people in them. In Westford, you'll find them all.