Compare towns
Westminster vs Webster vs Ashburnham
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%).
Webster has the most renters (40.2% rent).
Ashburnham has the most people working from home (16%).
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 | Webster | Ashburnham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,374 |
17,748Highest |
6,415Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
+3.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.3±4.6Highest 21% above MA |
39.9±2.9Lowest about the MA average |
40.7±6.3 about the MA average |
| Westminster and Ashburnham 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% |
19.6%±2.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.6%±6Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Ashburnham and Westminster 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% |
19.6%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
18.1%±4.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Westminster and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
25.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
44% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.8%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Webster 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 about the MA average |
$72,895±$6kLowest 30% below MA |
$118,809±$11kHighest 14% above MA |
| 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±$36kHighest 25% below MA |
$361,500±$12kLowest 36% below MA |
$390,700±$34k 30% below MA |
| Westminster and Ashburnham 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 |
$1,228±$81Lowest 30% below MA |
$1,807±$1k about the MA average |
| 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 17% below MA |
$3,999Lowest 33% below MA |
$6,046Highest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60%±27.3 MA: 51.8% |
45.7%±6.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
| 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 MA: 10% |
12.7%Highest MA: 10% |
6.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.6% MA: 62.5% |
59.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
96%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 7% below MA |
31 min 5% above MA |
32 minHighest 10% above MA |
| Work from home | 12.5%±4.2 MA: 18.6% |
8%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16%±7.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Ashburnham 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 | #271 of 282 in MA | #178 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ashburnham-Westminster | Webster | Ashburnham-Westminster |
| High school in town | Oakmont Regional High School | Bartlett High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.6Highest |
11.6Lowest |
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| 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.