Compare towns
Westminster vs West Wareham 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%).
West Wareham has the most affordable homes ($231k 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 | West Wareham | Ashburnham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,374Highest |
2,257Lowest |
6,415 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+7.8% MA: +7.4% |
+3.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.3±4.6 21% above MA |
57.6±13Highest 44% above MA |
40.7±6.3Lowest about the MA average |
| West Wareham 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% |
14.8%±7.3Lowest 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%±5.7 MA: 17.9% |
35%±3.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.1%±4.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| West Wareham 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%Highest MA: 47.3% |
18.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
44% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±4.7 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Ashburnham and West Wareham 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 |
$58,560±$15kLowest 44% 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 |
$230,800±$104kLowest 59% 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 |
— | $1,807±$1kLowest 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 |
$4,765Lowest 20% below MA |
$6,046Highest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60%±27.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
90.6%±37.4 MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Ashburnham and West Wareham 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% |
19.9%Highest MA: 10% |
6.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.6% MA: 62.5% |
78.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
96%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 7% below MA |
22 minLowest 23% below MA |
32 minHighest 10% above MA |
| Work from home | 12.5%±4.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
17.7%±13.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
16%±7.7 MA: 18.6% |
| West Wareham 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 | — | #178 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ashburnham-Westminster | — | Ashburnham-Westminster |
| High school in town | Oakmont Regional High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.6 |
— | — |
| 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.