Compare towns
Westminster vs Upton vs Putnam vs Rochester
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%).
Putnam has the most affordable homes ($269k median).
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 | Upton | Putnam | Rochester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,374 |
8,189 |
9,292Highest |
5,837Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +9.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.3±4.6Highest 24% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8 19% above U.S. |
43.7±3Lowest 12% above U.S. |
46.5±6 20% above U.S. |
| Westminster and Rochester 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% |
18.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Upton and Westminster 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% |
18.5%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.1%±4.2 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% |
20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.5% 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% |
3.9%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Rochester and Putnam 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. |
$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$120,273±$12k 49% above U.S. |
| Upton and Rochester 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±$41k 73% above U.S. |
$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$599,100±$31kHighest 80% above U.S. |
| Rochester and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,843±$268Highest 30% above U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,149±$44 19% below U.S. |
$1,432±$743 about the U.S. average |
| 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 59% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S. |
$6,530 109% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60%±27.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.1%±10.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Westminster and Upton 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% |
11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
35 min 34% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
37 minHighest 38% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.5%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.3%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #112 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | #128 of 149 in CT | #104 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ashburnham-Westminster | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Putnam School District | Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical · Rochester |
| High school in town | Oakmont Regional High School | Blackstone Valley | Putnam High School | Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.6Highest |
11.2 |
9.5 |
9.1Lowest |
| 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.