What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Hatfield has the most people working from home (16%).

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	Hatfield
People
Population	8,374Highest	3,325Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+12.9%Highest MA: +7.4%	+2.2%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	48.3±4.6Highest 21% above MA	46.8±5Lowest 17% above MA
	Westminster and Hatfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.3%±4.4Highest MA: 19.4%	14%±4.3Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Westminster and Hatfield 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%	23.3%±4.6Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Westminster and Hatfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	45.9%Lowest MA: 47.3%	48.5%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9%	5.1%±2.6Highest MA: 7.9%
	Hatfield 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±$22kHighest about the MA average	$89,005±$25kLowest 14% below MA
	Westminster and Hatfield 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	$440,800±$26kHighest 22% below MA
	Hatfield and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,843±$268Highest 5% above MA	$1,267±$216Lowest 28% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,973Highest 17% below MA	$4,930Lowest 18% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	60%±27.3Highest MA: 51.8%	42.6%±11.8Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Westminster and Hatfield 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%	8.9%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	87.6%Highest MA: 62.5%	74.6%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA	1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minHighest 7% below MA	20 minLowest 30% below MA
Work from home	12.5%±4.2Lowest MA: 18.6%	16%±6.3Highest MA: 18.6%
	Hatfield 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	#198 of 282 in MA
School district	Ashburnham-Westminster	Hatfield
High school in town	Oakmont Regional High School	Smith Academy
Students per teacherat that high school	13.6Highest	6.1Lowest
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.