Compare towns
Merrimac vs Epsom vs Westminster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Merrimac has the most expensive homes ($553k median).
Epsom has the most affordable homes ($338k 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 | Epsom | Westminster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,748 |
4,939Lowest |
8,374Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.4±6.8Highest 27% above U.S. |
47.1±3.4Lowest 21% above U.S. |
48.3±4.6 24% above U.S. |
| Merrimac and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.5%±6.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4.9 U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Westminster and Epsom are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26%±5.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Merrimac and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41% U.S.: 35.7% |
40.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Epsom 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 52% above U.S. |
$97,941±$13kLowest 21% above U.S. |
$106,331±$22k 32% above U.S. |
| 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 66% above U.S. |
$338,400±$19kLowest about the U.S. average |
$422,000±$36k 27% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,352±$325 4% below U.S. |
$1,212±$437Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$1,843±$268Highest 30% above U.S. |
| 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 137% above U.S. |
$6,210 99% above U.S. |
$4,973Lowest 59% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.3%±29.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
71.2%±19.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
60%±27.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Epsom and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 21% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 8.5%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.5%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Epsom 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 | #188 of 282 in MA | #69 of 120 in NH | #112 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Pentucket | Epsom School District | Ashburnham-Westminster |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Oakmont Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 13.6 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.