What stands out worked out from the figures below

Townsend has the youngest population (median age 40.9).

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.

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

Measure	Townsend	Westminster
People
Population	9,100Highest	8,374Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+12.9%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	40.9±3.3Lowest about the MA average	48.3±4.6Highest 21% above MA
	Westminster and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21%±3.2Lowest MA: 19.4%	21.3%±4.4Highest MA: 19.4%
	Westminster and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.1%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9%	26%±5.7Highest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	35.5%Lowest MA: 47.3%	45.9%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±2.4Highest MA: 7.9%	1.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Townsend and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$121,528±$23kHighest 17% above MA	$106,331±$22kLowest about the MA average
	Townsend and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$433,200±$22kHighest 23% below MA	$422,000±$36kLowest 25% below MA
	Townsend and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,469±$313Lowest 17% below MA	$1,843±$268Highest 5% above MA
	Westminster and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,031Highest about the MA average	$4,973Lowest 17% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	50.6%±16.8Lowest MA: 51.8%	60%±27.3Highest MA: 51.8%
	Westminster and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.9%Highest MA: 10%	2.3%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82%Lowest MA: 62.5%	87.6%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976Lowest 12 yrs newer than MA	1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	37 minHighest 27% above MA	27 minLowest 7% below MA
Work from home	10.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6%	12.5%±4.2Highest MA: 18.6%
	Westminster and Townsend 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	#136 of 282 in MA	#112 of 282 in MA
School district	North Middlesex	Ashburnham-Westminster
High school in town	North Middlesex Regional	Oakmont Regional High School
Students per teacherat that high school	13.1Lowest	13.6Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.