Compare towns
Westminster vs Brookline vs Princeton
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%).
Brookline has the most affordable homes ($291k median).
Princeton has the highest household income ($159k).
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 | Brookline | Princeton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,374Highest |
531Lowest |
3,529 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.3±4.6Highest 24% above U.S. |
45.1±2.7Lowest 16% above U.S. |
46.1±7 19% above U.S. |
| Westminster and Princeton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
20%±6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±4.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Princeton and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26%±5.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.9%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Westminster and Princeton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
41.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brookline and Princeton 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. |
$80,833±$16kLowest about the U.S. average |
$158,750±$46kHighest 97% above U.S. |
| Princeton 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. |
$290,700±$37kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$520,500±$48kHighest 56% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,843±$268Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,732±$232 23% above U.S. |
$897±$852Lowest 37% below U.S. |
| Westminster and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,973Lowest 59% above U.S. |
$5,000 60% above U.S. |
$6,633Highest 113% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60%±27.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.8%±94.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
69.8%±46.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Princeton and Westminster 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% |
6.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 38% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.5%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.6%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
29.5%±6.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Princeton and Brookline 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 | — | #59 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ashburnham-Westminster | — | Wachusett |
| High school 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.