Compare towns
Brookline vs Upton vs Westminster vs Andover
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brookline has the youngest population (median age 45.1).
Upton has the highest household income ($156k).
Westminster has the oldest population (median age 53.5).
Andover has the most people working from home (29.6%).
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 | Brookline | Upton | Westminster | Andover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 531Lowest |
8,189Highest |
2,999 |
616 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 45.1±2.7Lowest 16% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8 19% above U.S. |
53.5±3.7Highest 38% above U.S. |
49.2±5.1 26% above U.S. |
| Westminster and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20%±6 U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
11.5%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Upton and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.6%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.6%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.7%±4.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Westminster and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±3.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Westminster and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $80,833±$16k about the U.S. average |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$71,491±$4kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$102,500±$38k 27% above U.S. |
| Upton and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $290,700±$37k 13% below U.S. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
$273,800±$35kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$382,900±$68k 15% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,732±$232Highest 23% above U.S. |
$948±$599 33% below U.S. |
$916±$126Lowest 35% below U.S. |
$1,389±$364 about the U.S. average |
| Brookline and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,000 60% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$4,063Lowest 30% above U.S. |
$5,190 66% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.8%±94.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
49.2%±7.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
69.4%±47.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Andover and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 8% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.6%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
27%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
29.6%±12.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Andover and Westminster 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 | — | #46 of 282 in MA | #53 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District | — |
| High school in town | — | Blackstone Valley | Bellows Falls Union High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.2Highest |
10.6Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.