What stands out worked out from the figures below

Westminster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.9%).

Fitchburg has the most renters (45.9% 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Westminster	Fitchburg
People
Population	8,374Lowest	41,798Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+12.9%Highest MA: +7.4%	+4%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	48.3±4.6Highest 21% above MA	36.3±2Lowest 9% below MA
Kids under 18	21.3%±4.4Highest MA: 19.4%	20.6%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Westminster and Fitchburg 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%	14.3%±1.3Lowest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	45.9%Highest MA: 47.3%	25.1%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9%	7.7%±1Highest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$106,331±$22kHighest about the MA average	$73,040±$5kLowest 30% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$422,000±$36kHighest 25% below MA	$336,400±$11kLowest 40% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,843±$268Highest 5% above MA	$1,222±$89Lowest 31% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,973Highest 17% below MA	$4,456Lowest 26% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	60%±27.3Highest MA: 51.8%	49.9%±5.3Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Westminster and Fitchburg 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%	15.6%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	87.6%Highest MA: 62.5%	54.1%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA	1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 min 7% below MA	27 min 7% below MA
Work from home	12.5%±4.2Highest MA: 18.6%	10.3%±2Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Westminster and Fitchburg 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	#249 of 282 in MA
School district	Ashburnham-Westminster	Fitchburg · Montachusett Regional Vocational Technical
High school in town	Oakmont Regional High School	Montachusett Regional Vocational Technical
Students per teacherat that high school	13.6Highest	11.9Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.