Compare towns
Westminster vs Berlin vs Rochester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Westminster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.9%).
Berlin has the most affordable homes ($274k median).
Rochester has the most expensive homes ($599k 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 | Westminster | Berlin | Rochester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,374Highest |
2,880Lowest |
5,837 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.3±4.6 24% above U.S. |
50.6±2.4Highest 30% above U.S. |
46.5±6Lowest 20% above U.S. |
| Berlin and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.6%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Westminster and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26%±5.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.8%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.1%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Berlin and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Rochester and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $106,331±$22k 32% above U.S. |
$86,691±$21kLowest 7% above U.S. |
$120,273±$12kHighest 49% above U.S. |
| Rochester and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $422,000±$36k 27% above U.S. |
$273,600±$31kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$599,100±$31kHighest 80% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,843±$268Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,169±$171Lowest 17% below U.S. |
$1,432±$743 about the U.S. average |
| Westminster and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,973 59% above U.S. |
$4,418Lowest 42% above U.S. |
$6,530Highest 109% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60%±27.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41%±19.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.1%±10.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Westminster and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
37 minHighest 38% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.5%±4.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.7%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.3%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Westminster and Berlin 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 | #16 of 70 in VT | #104 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ashburnham-Westminster | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical · Rochester |
| High school in town | Oakmont Regional High School | None in town | Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.6Highest |
— | 9.1Lowest |
| 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.