Compare towns
Westminster vs Dover vs Merrimac
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Westminster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.9%).
Dover has the most people working from home (34.2%).
Merrimac has the most renters (18.7% rent).
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 | Dover | Merrimac |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,374Highest |
5,930Lowest |
6,748 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.3±4.6 21% above MA |
44.9±2.3Lowest 12% above MA |
49.4±6.8Highest 24% above MA |
| 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%±4.4 MA: 19.4% |
26%±5.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.5%±6.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Dover and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26%±5.7 MA: 17.9% |
16.7%±2.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
26.7%±5.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
| 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% MA: 47.3% |
84.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
41%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
7.2%±2.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.1%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $106,331±$22kLowest about the MA average |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$123,054±$16k 18% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $422,000±$36kLowest 25% below MA |
$1,340,300±$117kHighest 138% above MA |
$553,400±$38k about the MA average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,843±$268 5% above MA |
$2,917±$2kHighest 66% above MA |
$1,352±$325Lowest 23% below MA |
| Dover and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,973Lowest 17% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$7,399 23% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60%±27.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
59.3%±29.1 MA: 51.8% |
| 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 MA: 10% |
2.7% MA: 10% |
9.4%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.6% MA: 62.5% |
97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
81.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
1970Lowest 6 yrs newer than MA |
1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 7% below MA |
35 minHighest 19% above MA |
32 min 10% above MA |
| Work from home | 12.5%±4.2 MA: 18.6% |
34.2%±6.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
8.5%±3.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #112 of 282 in MA | #1 of 282 in MA | #188 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ashburnham-Westminster | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | Pentucket |
| High school in town | Oakmont Regional High School | Dover-Sherborn Regional High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.6Highest |
9.8Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.