What stands out worked out from the figures below

Leominster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.4%).

Westfield has the most affordable homes ($325k median).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Leominster	Westfield
People
Population	43,909Highest	40,378Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.4%Highest MA: +7.4%	-0.6%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	43.3±2.2Highest 8% above MA	39.9±1.8Lowest about the MA average
	Leominster and Westfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19%±1.8Highest MA: 19.4%	18.1%±2Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Leominster and Westfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.3%±1.9Highest MA: 17.9%	18.7%±1.5Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Leominster and Westfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	33.5%Highest MA: 47.3%	33.2%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.9%±1Lowest MA: 7.9%	10%±0.9Highest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$83,816±$7kLowest 19% below MA	$87,753±$6kHighest 16% below MA
	Westfield and Leominster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$380,400±$14kHighest 32% below MA	$325,100±$11kLowest 42% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,354±$50Highest 23% below MA	$1,117±$60Lowest 37% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,256Highest 12% below MA	$4,746Lowest 21% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	48.9%±5.6Highest MA: 51.8%	46.5%±5.8Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Leominster and Westfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.2%Lowest MA: 10%	10.7%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	62.3%Lowest MA: 62.5%	68.6%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1967Highest 3 yrs newer than MA	1964Lowest same as MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minLowest 10% below MA	27 minHighest 9% below MA
Work from home	10.9%±2.1Highest MA: 18.6%	8.6%±2.2Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Leominster and Westfield 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	#233 of 282 in MA	#197 of 282 in MA
School district	Leominster	Westfield
High school in town	Leominster High School	Westfield High
Students per teacherat that high school	10.6Lowest	11.9Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.