What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Ludlow has the shortest commute (20 min average).

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	Ludlow
People
Population	8,374Lowest	20,904Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+12.9%Highest MA: +7.4%	-0.5%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	48.3±4.6Highest 21% above MA	44.3±1.8Lowest 11% above MA
	Westminster and Ludlow 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%	16.4%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Westminster and Ludlow 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%	21.8%±2.5Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Westminster and Ludlow 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%	27%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9%	5.2%±1.7Highest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$106,331±$22kHighest about the MA average	$84,838±$7kLowest 18% below MA
	Westminster and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$422,000±$36kHighest 25% below MA	$335,300±$10kLowest 40% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,843±$268Highest 5% above MA	$1,223±$82Lowest 31% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,973Highest 17% below MA	$4,918Lowest 18% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	60%±27.3Highest MA: 51.8%	50.7%±9.5Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Westminster and Ludlow 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%	6.8%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	87.6%Highest MA: 62.5%	77.5%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA	1964Lowest same as MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minHighest 7% below MA	20 minLowest 31% below MA
Work from home	12.5%±4.2Lowest MA: 18.6%	14%±3.4Highest MA: 18.6%
	Ludlow 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	#154 of 282 in MA
School district	Ashburnham-Westminster	Ludlow
High school in town	Oakmont Regional High School	Ludlow Senior High
Students per teacherat that high school	13.6Highest	11.1Lowest
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.