Compare towns
Heath vs Westminster vs Rowe
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Heath has the most people working from home (31.7%).
Westminster has the most expensive homes ($422k median).
Rowe has the most kids (23% under 18).
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 | Heath | Westminster | Rowe |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 765 |
8,374Highest |
453Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+12.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 53.8±11.9Highest 35% above MA |
48.3±4.6Lowest 21% above MA |
48.9±6.4 22% above MA |
| Heath and Rowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.1%±2.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.3%±4.4 MA: 19.4% |
23%±5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Rowe and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 33.6%±8.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
26%±5.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
30.2%±8.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Heath and Rowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
45.9% MA: 47.3% |
26.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±2.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
1.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.3%±2Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $98,750±$23k 5% below MA |
$106,331±$22kHighest about the MA average |
$69,583±$13kLowest 33% below MA |
| Westminster and Heath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $295,000±$45k 48% below MA |
$422,000±$36kHighest 25% below MA |
$275,000±$41kLowest 51% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,843±$268Highest 5% above MA |
$1,313±$576Lowest 25% below MA |
| Westminster and Rowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,438 26% below MA |
$4,973Highest 17% below MA |
$1,458Lowest 76% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100 MA: 51.8% |
60%±27.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
11.8%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Westminster and Heath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.6% MA: 10% |
2.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
15.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.3% MA: 62.5% |
87.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
90.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
1959Lowest 5 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 20% above MA |
27 minLowest 7% below MA |
36 minHighest 22% above MA |
| Work from home | 31.7%±17.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.5%±4.2 MA: 18.6% |
7.2%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Heath 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 | — | #112 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | Ashburnham-Westminster | Rowe |
| High school in town | — | Oakmont Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.6 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.