Compare towns
Westminster vs Everett vs Ashburnham vs Princeton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Westminster has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Everett has the most renters (62.8% rent).
Ashburnham has the most affordable homes ($391k median).
Princeton has the most people working from home (29.5%).
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 | Everett | Ashburnham | Princeton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,374 |
50,045Highest |
6,415 |
3,529Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.9% MA: +7.4% |
+17.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.8% MA: +7.4% |
+2.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.3±4.6Highest 21% above MA |
35.2±1.5Lowest 12% below MA |
40.7±6.3 about the MA average |
46.1±7 15% above MA |
| 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%±4.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±2.1 MA: 19.4% |
22.6%±6Highest MA: 19.4% |
22.2%±4.6 MA: 19.4% |
| Ashburnham and Princeton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26%±5.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
11.3%±1.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.1%±4.5 MA: 17.9% |
20.9%±3.6 MA: 17.9% |
| 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% MA: 47.3% |
24.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
44% MA: 47.3% |
59.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.3%±0.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
1.9%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Everett and Ashburnham 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 about the MA average |
$85,218±$7kLowest 18% below MA |
$118,809±$11k 14% above MA |
$158,750±$46kHighest 53% above MA |
| Princeton and Ashburnham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $422,000±$36k 25% below MA |
$610,000±$23kHighest 9% above MA |
$390,700±$34kLowest 30% below MA |
$520,500±$48k 7% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,843±$268 5% above MA |
$2,076±$69Highest 18% above MA |
$1,807±$1k about the MA average |
$897±$852Lowest 49% below MA |
| Everett and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,973 17% below MA |
$4,880Lowest 19% below MA |
$6,046 about the MA average |
$6,633Highest 11% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60%±27.3 MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±5.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
69.8%±46.7 MA: 51.8% |
| Ashburnham and Princeton 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% |
14.7%Highest MA: 10% |
6.8% MA: 10% |
4.2% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.6% MA: 62.5% |
37.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
96%Highest MA: 62.5% |
94.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 7% below MA |
35 min 20% above MA |
32 min 10% above MA |
37 minHighest 25% above MA |
| Work from home | 12.5%±4.2 MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16%±7.7 MA: 18.6% |
29.5%±6.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Princeton and Ashburnham 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 | #264 of 282 in MA | #178 of 282 in MA | #59 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ashburnham-Westminster | Everett | Ashburnham-Westminster | Wachusett |
| High school in town | Oakmont Regional High School | Everett High | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.6Highest |
12.1Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.