What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Hanson has the most expensive homes ($534k 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.

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

Measure	Westminster	Hanson
People
Population	8,374Lowest	10,660Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+12.9%Highest MA: +7.4%	+4.2%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	48.3±4.6Highest 21% above MA	42.8±3Lowest 7% above MA
	Westminster and Hanson 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%	21.6%±3.7Highest MA: 19.4%
	Hanson and Westminster 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%	19.7%±3Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Westminster and Hanson 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 MA: 47.3%	42.6%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9%	4.8%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9%
	Hanson and Westminster 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 about the MA average	$132,200±$10kHighest 27% above MA
	Hanson 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 25% below MA	$533,900±$36kHighest 5% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,843±$268Highest 5% above MA	$1,821±$860Lowest 3% above MA
	Westminster and Hanson 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	$6,402Highest 7% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	60%±27.3Lowest MA: 51.8%	69%±33.1Highest MA: 51.8%
	Hanson 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 MA: 10%	2.7%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	87.6%Lowest MA: 62.5%	89%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA	1972Lowest 8 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest 7% below MA	34 minHighest 15% above MA
Work from home	12.5%±4.2Highest MA: 18.6%	7.9%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Westminster and Hanson 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	#149 of 282 in MA
School district	Ashburnham-Westminster	Whitman-Hanson
High school in town	Oakmont Regional High School	Whitman Hanson Regional
Students per teacherat that high school	13.6Lowest	14.7Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.