Compare towns
Westminster vs Chaplin vs Windsor Locks vs Merrimac
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 the most kids (21.3% under 18).
Chaplin has the most people working from home (18.1%).
Windsor Locks has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Merrimac has the most expensive homes ($553k 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 | Chaplin | Windsor Locks | Merrimac |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,374 |
2,070Lowest |
12,579Highest |
6,748 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — | +6.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.3±4.6 24% above U.S. |
43.7±4.8 12% above U.S. |
41.4±2.6Lowest 6% above U.S. |
49.4±6.8Highest 27% above U.S. |
| Merrimac 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% |
15.7%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
16.5%±6.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Westminster and Windsor Locks 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% |
20.9%±4.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Merrimac 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% |
25.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
41% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
10.1%±6.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chaplin and Windsor Locks 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. |
$97,846±$14k 21% above U.S. |
$81,205±$13kLowest about the U.S. average |
$123,054±$16kHighest 52% above U.S. |
| Merrimac 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. |
$255,200±$24kLowest 23% below U.S. |
$258,800±$14k 22% below U.S. |
$553,400±$38kHighest 66% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,843±$268Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,473±$275 4% above U.S. |
$1,394±$187 about the U.S. average |
$1,352±$325Lowest 4% below U.S. |
| Westminster and Chaplin 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. |
$4,524 45% above U.S. |
$3,688Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$7,399Highest 137% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60%±27.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
33.6%±27.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
58.2%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
59.3%±29.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Westminster and Merrimac 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% |
5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
32 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
32 min 21% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.5%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±10Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.5%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Chaplin and Windsor Locks 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 | — | #109 of 149 in CT | #188 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ashburnham-Westminster | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | Windsor Locks School District | Pentucket |
| High school in town | Oakmont Regional High School | Parish Hill High School | Windsor Locks High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.6Highest |
7.5Lowest |
8.9 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.