Compare towns
Ayer vs Princeton vs Westminster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ayer has the most renters (30.8% rent).
Princeton has the highest household income ($159k).
Westminster has the shortest commute (27 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 | Ayer | Princeton | Westminster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,645Highest |
3,529Lowest |
8,374 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+12.9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average |
46.1±7 15% above MA |
48.3±4.6Highest 21% above MA |
| Westminster and Princeton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±3.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.2%±4.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.3%±4.4 MA: 19.4% |
| Princeton and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.9%±3.6 MA: 17.9% |
26%±5.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Westminster and Princeton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
59.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
45.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
1.9%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
1.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Ayer and Princeton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $101,875±$15kLowest about the MA average |
$158,750±$46kHighest 53% above MA |
$106,331±$22k about the MA average |
| Princeton and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $463,800±$29k 17% below MA |
$520,500±$48kHighest 7% below MA |
$422,000±$36kLowest 25% below MA |
| Princeton and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,415±$180 20% below MA |
$897±$852Lowest 49% below MA |
$1,843±$268Highest 5% above MA |
| Westminster and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,057 16% below MA |
$6,633Highest 11% above MA |
$4,973Lowest 17% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±14.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
69.8%±46.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
60%±27.3 MA: 51.8% |
| Princeton and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.7%Highest MA: 10% |
4.2% MA: 10% |
2.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
94.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
87.6% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1975Lowest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 13% above MA |
37 minHighest 25% above MA |
27 minLowest 7% below MA |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9 MA: 18.6% |
29.5%±6.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.5%±4.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Princeton and Ayer 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 | #113 of 282 in MA | #59 of 282 in MA | #112 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | Wachusett | Ashburnham-Westminster |
| High school in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | None in town | Oakmont Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5Lowest |
— | 13.6Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 12 photos → | 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.