What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Spencer has the most renters (37% 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	Spencer
People
Population	8,374Lowest	12,008Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+12.9%Highest MA: +7.4%	+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	48.3±4.6Lowest 21% above MA	48.9±6.8Highest 22% above MA
	Spencer 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 MA: 19.4%	16.4%±3.9Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Westminster and Spencer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	26%±5.7 MA: 17.9%	26%±4.4 MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	45.9%Highest MA: 47.3%	29.1%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9%	5.2%±2.4Highest MA: 7.9%
	Spencer 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	$80,533±$11kLowest 23% below MA
	Westminster and Spencer 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	$382,000±$22kLowest 32% below MA
	Westminster and Spencer 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	$1,078±$161Lowest 39% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,973Highest 17% below MA	$4,387Lowest 27% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	60%±27.3Highest MA: 51.8%	50.6%±10.3Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Westminster and Spencer 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%	11%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	87.6%Highest MA: 62.5%	63%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA	1968Lowest 4 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest 7% below MA	34 minHighest 18% above MA
Work from home	12.5%±4.2Lowest MA: 18.6%	15%±7.3Highest MA: 18.6%
	Spencer 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	#261 of 282 in MA
School district	Ashburnham-Westminster	Spencer-E Brookfield
High school in town	Oakmont Regional High School	David Prouty High
Students per teacherat that high school	13.6Highest	9.9Lowest
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.