Compare towns
Union vs Westminster vs Scotland
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Union has the oldest population (median age 49.9).
Westminster has the most expensive homes ($422k median).
Scotland has the most affordable homes ($294k 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 | Union | Westminster | Scotland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 944Lowest |
8,374Highest |
1,599 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +12.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 49.9±4.3Highest 28% above U.S. |
48.3±4.6 24% above U.S. |
44.7±5Lowest 15% above U.S. |
| Union and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Westminster and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.5%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
26%±5.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.6%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Westminster and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Scotland and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $88,958±$14kLowest 10% above U.S. |
$106,331±$22kHighest 32% above U.S. |
$99,881±$12k 24% above U.S. |
| Westminster and Scotland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $330,400±$26k about the U.S. average |
$422,000±$36kHighest 27% above U.S. |
$294,100±$20kLowest 12% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,843±$268Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,188±$468Lowest 16% below U.S. |
| Westminster and Scotland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,793Lowest 54% above U.S. |
$4,973 59% above U.S. |
$6,175Highest 98% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 90%±64.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
60%±27.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±75.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Union and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.5%±4.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±6.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Westminster and Scotland 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 | — | #112 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Union School District | Ashburnham-Westminster | Scotland School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Oakmont Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.6 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.