What stands out worked out from the figures below

Westminster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.9%).

Winchendon has the most affordable homes ($324k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Westminster	Winchendon
People
Population	8,374Lowest	10,440Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+12.9%Highest MA: +7.4%	+0.6%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	48.3±4.6Highest 21% above MA	39.6±1.9Lowest about the MA average
Kids under 18	21.3%±4.4Lowest MA: 19.4%	21.8%±3.9Highest MA: 19.4%
	Winchendon 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%	16.9%±2.7Lowest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	45.9%Highest MA: 47.3%	21.4%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9%	4.5%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9%
	Winchendon and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$106,331±$22kHighest about the MA average	$75,690±$14kLowest 27% below MA
	Westminster and Winchendon 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	$323,800±$19kLowest 42% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,843±$268Highest 5% above MA	$1,255±$163Lowest 29% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,973Highest 17% below MA	$3,780Lowest 37% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	60%±27.3Lowest MA: 51.8%	61.7%±17.6Highest MA: 51.8%
	Winchendon 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%	18.5%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	87.6%Highest MA: 62.5%	76.6%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Lowest 13 yrs newer than MA	1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest 7% below MA	32 minHighest 11% above MA
Work from home	12.5%±4.2Highest MA: 18.6%	11.2%±3.1Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Westminster and Winchendon 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	#269 of 282 in MA
School district	Ashburnham-Westminster	Winchendon
High school in town	Oakmont Regional High School	Murdock High School
Students per teacherat that high school	13.6Highest	11.3Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.