Compare towns
Westminster vs Princeton vs Upton
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%).
Princeton has the most people working from home (29.5%).
Upton has the most expensive homes ($577k 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 | Princeton | Upton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,374Highest |
3,529Lowest |
8,189 |
| 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±4.6Highest 21% above MA |
46.1±7Lowest 15% above MA |
46.4±4.8 16% above MA |
| Westminster and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±4.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.2%±4.6 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Upton and Princeton 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% |
20.9%±3.6 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Westminster and Princeton 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% |
59.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
53.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
1.9%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Upton and Princeton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $106,331±$22kLowest about the MA average |
$158,750±$46kHighest 53% above MA |
$155,508±$33k 50% above MA |
| Princeton and Upton 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 |
$520,500±$48k 7% below MA |
$576,700±$41kHighest about the MA average |
| Upton and Princeton 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 |
$897±$852Lowest 49% below MA |
$948±$599 46% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,973Lowest 17% below MA |
$6,633 11% above MA |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60%±27.3 MA: 51.8% |
69.8%±46.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Princeton and Westminster 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% |
4.2%Highest MA: 10% |
3.2% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.6% MA: 62.5% |
94.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
1975Lowest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 7% below MA |
37 minHighest 25% above MA |
35 min 22% above MA |
| Work from home | 12.5%±4.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
29.5%±6.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Princeton and Upton 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 | #59 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ashburnham-Westminster | Wachusett | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton |
| High school in town | Oakmont Regional High School | None in town | Blackstone Valley |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.6Highest |
— | 11.2Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.