Compare towns
Westminster vs Killingly vs Rochester vs Merrimac
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Westminster has the most people working from home (12.5%).
Killingly has the most affordable homes ($289k median).
Rochester has the most expensive homes ($599k median).
Merrimac has the highest household income ($123k).
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 | Killingly | Rochester | Merrimac |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,374 |
17,867Highest |
5,837Lowest |
6,748 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +9.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.3±4.6 24% above U.S. |
39.5±3Lowest about the U.S. average |
46.5±6 20% above U.S. |
49.4±6.8Highest 27% above U.S. |
| Merrimac and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
16.5%±6.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Westminster and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26%±5.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.1%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Merrimac and Westminster 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
22.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
41% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Killingly and Rochester 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 32% above U.S. |
$84,350±$8kLowest 4% above U.S. |
$120,273±$12k 49% above U.S. |
$123,054±$16kHighest 52% above U.S. |
| Merrimac and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $422,000±$36k 27% above U.S. |
$288,600±$15kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$599,100±$31kHighest 80% above U.S. |
$553,400±$38k 66% above U.S. |
| Rochester and Merrimac are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,843±$268Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,044±$141Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,432±$743 about the U.S. average |
$1,352±$325 4% below U.S. |
| Westminster and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,973 59% above U.S. |
$3,922Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$6,530 109% above U.S. |
$7,399Highest 137% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60%±27.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.8%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.1%±10.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59.3%±29.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
11.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 38% above U.S. |
32 min 21% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.5%±4.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.3%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.5%±3.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Westminster and Killingly 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 | #136 of 149 in CT | #104 of 282 in MA | #188 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ashburnham-Westminster | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical · Rochester | Pentucket |
| High school in town | Oakmont Regional High School | Killingly High School | Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.6Highest |
11.1 |
9.1Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.