Compare towns
Rochester vs Upton vs Westminster vs West Wareham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Rochester has the most expensive homes ($599k median).
Upton has the highest household income ($156k).
Westminster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.9%).
West Wareham has the most affordable homes ($231k 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.
| Measure | Rochester | Upton | Westminster | West Wareham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,837 |
8,189 |
8,374Highest |
2,257Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.3% MA: +7.4% |
+6.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+12.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+7.8% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.5±6 16% above MA |
46.4±4.8Lowest 16% above MA |
48.3±4.6 21% above MA |
57.6±13Highest 44% above MA |
| West Wareham and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.1%±4.6 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.3%±4.4 MA: 19.4% |
14.8%±7.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Upton and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.1%±4.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9 MA: 17.9% |
26%±5.7 MA: 17.9% |
35%±3.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
| West Wareham and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.5% MA: 47.3% |
53.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
45.9% MA: 47.3% |
18.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
1.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±4.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
| West Wareham and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $120,273±$12k 16% above MA |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$106,331±$22k about the MA average |
$58,560±$15kLowest 44% below MA |
| Upton and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $599,100±$31kHighest 7% above MA |
$576,700±$41k about the MA average |
$422,000±$36k 25% below MA |
$230,800±$104kLowest 59% below MA |
| Rochester and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,432±$743 19% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,843±$268Highest 5% above MA |
— |
| Westminster and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,530 9% above MA |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$4,973 17% below MA |
$4,765Lowest 20% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.1%±10.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
60%±27.3 MA: 51.8% |
90.6%±37.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
| West Wareham and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.4% MA: 10% |
3.2% MA: 10% |
2.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
19.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
86.7% MA: 62.5% |
87.6% MA: 62.5% |
78.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1977Lowest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1982 18 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 25% above MA |
35 min 22% above MA |
27 min 7% below MA |
22 minLowest 23% below MA |
| Work from home | 8.3%±3.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.5%±4.2 MA: 18.6% |
17.7%±13.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Upton and West Wareham 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 | #104 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | #112 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical · Rochester | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Ashburnham-Westminster | — |
| High school in town | Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical | Blackstone Valley | Oakmont Regional High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.1Lowest |
11.2 |
13.6Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.