Compare towns
Westminster vs Epping 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.9%).
Epping has the most people working from home (24%).
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 | Epping | Merrimac |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,374Highest |
7,430 |
6,748Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.3±4.6 24% above U.S. |
45.1±3.5Lowest 16% 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% |
18.7%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
16.5%±6.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Westminster and Epping 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% |
22.6%±5.2Lowest 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% |
37%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
41% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Epping and Merrimac 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. |
$104,220±$7kLowest 29% above U.S. |
$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±$36kLowest 27% above U.S. |
$436,900±$35k 31% above U.S. |
$553,400±$38kHighest 66% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,843±$268Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,742±$576 23% above U.S. |
$1,352±$325Lowest 4% below U.S. |
| Westminster and Epping 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. |
$6,936 122% above U.S. |
$7,399Highest 137% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60%±27.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
59.3%±29.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Epping 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% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
32 min 21% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.5%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.5%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #112 of 282 in MA | #77 of 120 in NH | #188 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ashburnham-Westminster | Epping School District | Pentucket |
| High school in town | Oakmont Regional High School | Epping High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.6Highest |
9.3Lowest |
— |
| 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.