Compare towns
Westminster vs Upton vs Webster vs Merrimac
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%).
Upton has the most people working from home (22.8%).
Webster has the most renters (54.5% rent).
Merrimac has the oldest population (median age 49.4).
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 | Webster | Merrimac |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,374 |
8,189 |
12,228Highest |
6,748Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.9% MA: +7.4% |
+6.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.3±4.6 21% above MA |
46.4±4.8 16% above MA |
37.2±2.1Lowest 7% below MA |
49.4±6.8Highest 24% above MA |
| Merrimac and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±4.4 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±3.6 MA: 19.4% |
16.5%±6.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Upton and Webster 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% |
20.7%±4.9 MA: 17.9% |
15.7%±2.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
26.7%±5.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Merrimac and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.9% MA: 47.3% |
53.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
18.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
41% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
6%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.1%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $106,331±$22k about the MA average |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$63,837±$8kLowest 39% below MA |
$123,054±$16k 18% above MA |
| Upton and Merrimac 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 |
$576,700±$41kHighest about the MA average |
$333,100±$14kLowest 41% below MA |
$553,400±$38k about the MA average |
| Upton and Merrimac 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 |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,198±$85 32% below MA |
$1,352±$325 23% below MA |
| Westminster and Merrimac 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 |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$3,234Lowest 46% below MA |
$7,399 23% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60%±27.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
46.1%±7.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
59.3%±29.1 MA: 51.8% |
| Westminster and Merrimac 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% |
3.2% MA: 10% |
16%Highest MA: 10% |
9.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
86.7% MA: 62.5% |
45.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
81.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 7% below MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
32 min 10% above MA |
| Work from home | 12.5%±4.2 MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
7.1%±2.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
8.5%±3.4 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #112 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | #271 of 282 in MA | #188 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ashburnham-Westminster | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | — | Pentucket |
| High school in town | Oakmont Regional High School | Blackstone Valley | — | 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 |
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.