What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Holyoke has the most renters (58.7% rent).

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	Holyoke
People
Population	8,374Lowest	37,813Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+12.9%Highest MA: +7.4%	-4.1%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	48.3±4.6Highest 21% above MA	40±1.6Lowest about the MA average
Kids under 18	21.3%±4.4Lowest MA: 19.4%	21.4%±1.9Highest MA: 19.4%
	Holyoke 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%	20.1%±1.6Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Westminster and Holyoke 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%	25.9%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9%	3.4%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9%
	Holyoke 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	$53,605±$3kLowest 48% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$422,000±$36kHighest 25% below MA	$274,100±$8kLowest 51% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,843±$268Highest 5% above MA	$1,021±$60Lowest 42% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,973Highest 17% below MA	$4,065Lowest 32% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	60%±27.3Highest MA: 51.8%	51.7%±5.4Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Westminster and Holyoke 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%	27%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	87.6%Highest MA: 62.5%	41.3%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA	1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minHighest 7% below MA	19 minLowest 34% below MA
Work from home	12.5%±4.2Highest MA: 18.6%	11.1%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Westminster and Holyoke 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	#281 of 282 in MA
School district	Ashburnham-Westminster	Holyoke · Springfield
High school in town	Oakmont Regional High School	Holyoke High
Students per teacherat that high school	13.6Highest	12.5Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.