Compare towns
Ashburnham vs Reading vs Reading vs Westminster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ashburnham has the most homeowners (96%).
Westminster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.9%).
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 | Ashburnham | Reading | Reading | Westminster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,415Lowest |
25,612Highest |
25,612Highest |
8,374 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.8% MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+12.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.7±6.3Lowest about the MA average |
43.7±2.3 9% above MA |
43.7±2.3 9% above MA |
48.3±4.6Highest 21% above MA |
| Westminster and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.6%±6 MA: 19.4% |
22.8%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
22.8%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.3%±4.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 18.1%±4.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
26%±5.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Westminster and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
66.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
66.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
45.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7 MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7 MA: 7.9% |
1.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Ashburnham and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $118,809±$11k 14% above MA |
$165,912±$13kHighest 60% above MA |
$165,912±$13kHighest 60% above MA |
$106,331±$22kLowest about the MA average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $390,700±$34kLowest 30% below MA |
$809,000±$22kHighest 44% above MA |
$809,000±$22kHighest 44% above MA |
$422,000±$36k 25% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,807±$1kLowest about the MA average |
$1,991±$273Highest 13% above MA |
$1,991±$273Highest 13% above MA |
$1,843±$268 5% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,046 about the MA average |
$9,320Highest 56% above MA |
$9,320Highest 56% above MA |
$4,973Lowest 17% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
60%±27.3 MA: 51.8% |
| Ashburnham and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.8%Highest MA: 10% |
3.2% MA: 10% |
3.2% MA: 10% |
2.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96%Highest MA: 62.5% |
82.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
82.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
87.6% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 10% above MA |
31 min 6% above MA |
31 min 6% above MA |
27 minLowest 7% below MA |
| Work from home | 16%±7.7 MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.5%±4.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #178 of 282 in MA | #50 of 282 in MA | #50 of 282 in MA | #112 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ashburnham-Westminster | — | Reading | Ashburnham-Westminster |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Reading Memorial High | Oakmont Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.1Lowest |
13.6Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.