Compare towns
Westminster vs Washington 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
Washington has the most expensive homes ($660k 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 | Washington | Ashburnham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,374Highest |
3,676Lowest |
6,415 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.3±4.6 24% above U.S. |
49.9±5.5Highest 28% above U.S. |
40.7±6.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Washington 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 U.S.: 22% |
19%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Ashburnham and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26%±5.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Washington 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Washington and Ashburnham 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. |
$101,549±$16kLowest 26% above U.S. |
$118,809±$11kHighest 47% above U.S. |
| Ashburnham 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 27% above U.S. |
$660,200±$130kHighest 98% above U.S. |
$390,700±$34kLowest 17% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,843±$268Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,204±$264Lowest 15% 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. |
$4,709Lowest 51% above U.S. |
$6,046Highest 94% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60%±27.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
26.1%±24Lowest 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% |
9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
79%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 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 |
26 minLowest 3% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 21% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.5%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.1%±9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16%±7.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Washington 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 | #17 of 149 in CT | #178 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ashburnham-Westminster | Regional School District 12 | Ashburnham-Westminster |
| High school in town | Oakmont Regional High School | Shepaug Valley School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.6Highest |
9.1Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.