Compare towns
Ashburnham vs Sutton vs Westminster vs Berkley
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ashburnham has the most affordable homes ($391k median).
Sutton has the most people working from home (22.7%).
Westminster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.9%).
Berkley has the most homeowners (96.7%).
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 | Ashburnham | Sutton | Westminster | Berkley |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,415Lowest |
9,452Highest |
8,374 |
6,829 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+12.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.5% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.7±6.3Lowest about the MA average |
44.3±2.5 11% above MA |
48.3±4.6Highest 21% above MA |
43.4±4.1 9% above MA |
| Westminster and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.6%±6Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.3%±4.4 MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±5.4 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+ | 18.1%±4.5 MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
26%±5.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.2%±3.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Westminster and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44% MA: 47.3% |
52.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
45.9% MA: 47.3% |
37.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
1.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±2.7 MA: 7.9% |
| Ashburnham and Berkley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $118,809±$11k 14% above MA |
$147,125±$25kHighest 42% above MA |
$106,331±$22kLowest about the MA average |
$144,205±$49k 39% above MA |
| Sutton and Berkley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $390,700±$34kLowest 30% below MA |
$523,100±$47kHighest 7% below MA |
$422,000±$36k 25% below MA |
$511,200±$45k 9% below MA |
| Sutton and Berkley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,807±$1k about the MA average |
$1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA |
$1,843±$268Highest 5% above MA |
— |
| Westminster and Ashburnham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,046 about the MA average |
$6,763Highest 13% above MA |
$4,973Lowest 17% below MA |
$6,018 about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
60%±27.3 MA: 51.8% |
0%±100Lowest 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 | 6.8%Highest MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
2.3% MA: 10% |
2.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96% MA: 62.5% |
89.7% MA: 62.5% |
87.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
96.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1977Lowest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 10% above MA |
30 min about the MA average |
27 minLowest 7% below MA |
27 min 6% below MA |
| Work from home | 16%±7.7 MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.5%±4.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
13.1%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Sutton 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 | #178 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA | #112 of 282 in MA | #155 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ashburnham-Westminster | Sutton | Ashburnham-Westminster | Berkley |
| High school in town | None in town | Sutton High School | Oakmont Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.6Lowest |
13.6Highest |
— |
| 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.