Compare towns
Merrimac vs Dalton vs Westminster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Merrimac has the most expensive homes ($553k median).
Dalton has the most affordable homes ($296k median).
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 | Merrimac | Dalton | Westminster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,748 |
6,256Lowest |
8,374Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.1% MA: +7.4% |
-6.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+12.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.4±6.8 24% above MA |
49.7±5.8Highest 24% above MA |
48.3±4.6Lowest 21% above MA |
| Dalton and Merrimac are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.5%±6.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.6%±4.7 MA: 19.4% |
21.3%±4.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Westminster and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.7%±5.8 MA: 17.9% |
27.9%±5.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
26%±5.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Dalton and Merrimac are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
44.3% MA: 47.3% |
45.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
2.3%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
1.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Dalton and Merrimac are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $123,054±$16kHighest 18% above MA |
$79,438±$8kLowest 24% below MA |
$106,331±$22k about the MA average |
| Merrimac and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $553,400±$38kHighest about the MA average |
$295,700±$26kLowest 47% below MA |
$422,000±$36k 25% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,352±$325 23% below MA |
$872±$70Lowest 51% below MA |
$1,843±$268Highest 5% above MA |
| Westminster and Merrimac are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,399Highest 23% above MA |
$4,276Lowest 29% below MA |
$4,973 17% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.3%±29.1 MA: 51.8% |
41.2%±19Lowest MA: 51.8% |
60%±27.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Westminster and Merrimac are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.4%Highest MA: 10% |
7.4% MA: 10% |
2.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.3% MA: 62.5% |
70.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
87.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 10% above MA |
22 minLowest 24% below MA |
27 min 7% below MA |
| Work from home | 8.5%±3.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
12.5%±7.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.5%±4.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #188 of 282 in MA | #192 of 282 in MA | #112 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Pentucket | Central Berkshire | Ashburnham-Westminster |
| High school in town | None in town | Wahconah Regional High | Oakmont Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.9Lowest |
13.6Highest |
| 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.