Compare towns
Westminster vs Spencer vs Rochester
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%).
Spencer has the most renters (37% rent).
Rochester has the most expensive homes ($599k 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 | Spencer | Rochester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,374 |
12,008Highest |
5,837Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.3% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.3±4.6 21% above MA |
48.9±6.8Highest 22% above MA |
46.5±6Lowest 16% 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% |
20.1%±4.6 MA: 19.4% |
| Westminster and Rochester 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% |
26%±4.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.1%±4.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
29.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
43.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.2%±2.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
| Spencer 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 about the MA average |
$80,533±$11kLowest 23% below MA |
$120,273±$12kHighest 16% above MA |
| Rochester and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $422,000±$36k 25% below MA |
$382,000±$22kLowest 32% below MA |
$599,100±$31kHighest 7% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,843±$268Highest 5% above MA |
$1,078±$161Lowest 39% below MA |
$1,432±$743 19% below MA |
| 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 17% below MA |
$4,387Lowest 27% below MA |
$6,530Highest 9% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60%±27.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±10.3 MA: 51.8% |
39.1%±10.2Lowest 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% |
5.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.6% MA: 62.5% |
63%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
88.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
1968Lowest 4 yrs newer than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 7% below MA |
34 min 18% above MA |
37 minHighest 25% above MA |
| Work from home | 12.5%±4.2 MA: 18.6% |
15%±7.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
8.3%±3.7Lowest 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 | #104 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ashburnham-Westminster | Spencer-E Brookfield | Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical · Rochester |
| High school in town | Oakmont Regional High School | David Prouty High | Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.6Highest |
9.9 |
9.1Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.