Compare towns
Westminster vs Upton vs Brooklyn vs Ashburnham
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 oldest population (median age 48.3).
Upton has the most people working from home (22.8%).
Brooklyn has the most affordable homes ($315k median).
Ashburnham has the youngest population (median age 40.7).
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 | Upton | Brooklyn | Ashburnham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,374 |
8,189 |
8,517Highest |
6,415Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.3±4.6Highest 24% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8 19% above U.S. |
45.6±2.5 17% above U.S. |
40.7±6.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| 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%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.6%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±6 U.S.: 22% |
| Upton and Ashburnham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26%±5.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Westminster and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ashburnham and Brooklyn 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. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$96,207±$15kLowest 19% above U.S. |
$118,809±$11k 47% above U.S. |
| Upton and Ashburnham 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. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
$315,200±$28kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$390,700±$34k 17% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,843±$268Highest 30% above U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,125±$98 20% below U.S. |
$1,807±$1k 28% above U.S. |
| Westminster and Ashburnham 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. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$4,538Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$6,046 94% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60%±27.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
38.5%±19.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ashburnham 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
32 min 21% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.5%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.7%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16%±7.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Upton and Ashburnham 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 | #46 of 282 in MA | #113 of 149 in CT | #178 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ashburnham-Westminster | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Brooklyn School District | Ashburnham-Westminster |
| High school in town | Oakmont Regional High School | Blackstone Valley | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.6Highest |
11.2Lowest |
— | — |
| 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.