Compare towns
Westminster vs Hardwick 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.9%).
Hardwick has the most renters (31.8% rent).
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 | Hardwick | Princeton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,374Highest |
2,684Lowest |
3,529 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.3±4.6Highest 21% above MA |
45.3±9.8Lowest 13% above MA |
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%±4.4 MA: 19.4% |
20.5%±5.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.2%±4.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Princeton 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% |
22.7%±5 MA: 17.9% |
20.9%±3.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Westminster and Hardwick 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% |
30.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
59.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±4.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
1.9%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Hardwick and Princeton 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 |
$75,000±$22kLowest 28% below MA |
$158,750±$46kHighest 53% above MA |
| Princeton 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±$36k 25% below MA |
$346,700±$67kLowest 38% below MA |
$520,500±$48kHighest 7% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,843±$268Highest 5% above MA |
$1,108±$119 37% below MA |
$897±$852Lowest 49% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,973 17% below MA |
$4,400Lowest 27% below MA |
$6,633Highest 11% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60%±27.3 MA: 51.8% |
59%±13.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
69.8%±46.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Princeton 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% |
11%Highest MA: 10% |
4.2% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.6% MA: 62.5% |
68.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
94.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1968Lowest 4 yrs newer than MA |
1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 7% below MA |
31 min 7% above MA |
37 minHighest 25% above MA |
| Work from home | 12.5%±4.2 MA: 18.6% |
8.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
29.5%±6.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #112 of 282 in MA | #163 of 282 in MA | #59 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ashburnham-Westminster | Quabbin | Wachusett |
| 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 |
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.