Compare towns
Westminster vs Hampton 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).
Hampton has the most people working from home (17.7%).
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 | Hampton | Merrimac |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,374Highest |
1,647Lowest |
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±4.6Lowest 24% above U.S. |
51.5±5.3Highest 32% above U.S. |
49.4±6.8 27% above U.S. |
| Hampton and Merrimac 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% |
19.7%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
16.5%±6.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Westminster and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Merrimac and Hampton 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% |
29.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
41% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Merrimac and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $106,331±$22kLowest 32% above U.S. |
$109,167±$19k 35% above U.S. |
$123,054±$16kHighest 52% above U.S. |
| Merrimac and Hampton 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. |
$295,800±$27kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$553,400±$38kHighest 66% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,843±$268Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,285±$288Lowest 9% below U.S. |
$1,352±$325 4% below U.S. |
| Westminster and Merrimac 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. |
$4,364Lowest 40% above U.S. |
$7,399Highest 137% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60%±27.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.5%±51.5Lowest 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% |
5.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
90%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 21% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.5%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±5.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.5%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hampton and Westminster 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 | — | #188 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ashburnham-Westminster | Hampton School District | Pentucket |
| High school in town | Oakmont Regional High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.6 |
— | — |
| 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.