Compare towns
Westminster vs Heath vs Merrimac
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%).
Heath has the most people working from home (31.7%).
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 | Heath | Merrimac |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,374Highest |
765Lowest |
6,748 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.3±4.6Lowest 21% above MA |
53.8±11.9Highest 35% above MA |
49.4±6.8 24% above MA |
| Heath 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 MA: 19.4% |
13.1%±2.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
16.5%±6.2 MA: 19.4% |
| Westminster and Merrimac are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26%±5.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
33.6%±8.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
26.7%±5.8 MA: 17.9% |
| Heath and Merrimac 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% |
46.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
41%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.3%±2.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.1%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Heath and Merrimac 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 |
$98,750±$23kLowest 5% below MA |
$123,054±$16kHighest 18% above MA |
| Merrimac 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 |
$295,000±$45kLowest 48% below MA |
$553,400±$38kHighest about the MA average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,843±$268Highest 5% above MA |
— | $1,352±$325Lowest 23% below MA |
| 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 17% below MA |
$4,438Lowest 26% below MA |
$7,399Highest 23% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60%±27.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
40%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
59.3%±29.1 MA: 51.8% |
| 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 MA: 10% |
6.6% MA: 10% |
9.4%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.6% MA: 62.5% |
88.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
81.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 7% below MA |
35 minHighest 20% above MA |
32 min 10% above MA |
| Work from home | 12.5%±4.2 MA: 18.6% |
31.7%±17.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
8.5%±3.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Heath 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 | — | Pentucket |
| High school in town | Oakmont Regional High School | — | 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.