Compare towns
Douglas vs Sterling vs Westminster vs Sutton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Douglas has the highest household income ($152k).
Sterling has the oldest population (median age 51.5).
Westminster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.9%).
Sutton has the most people working from home (22.7%).
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 | Douglas | Sterling | Westminster | Sutton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,207 |
8,183Lowest |
8,374 |
9,452Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% MA: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+12.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44±2.6Lowest 10% above MA |
51.5±1.8Highest 29% above MA |
48.3±4.6 21% above MA |
44.3±2.5 11% above MA |
| Sterling and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.2%±3.8 MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±4.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.3%±4.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
| Westminster and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.4%±3.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.9%±4 MA: 17.9% |
26%±5.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Westminster and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
48.3% MA: 47.3% |
45.9% MA: 47.3% |
52.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
1.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
| Douglas and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $152,267±$10kHighest 46% above MA |
$129,063±$27k 24% above MA |
$106,331±$22kLowest about the MA average |
$147,125±$25k 42% above MA |
| Douglas and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $470,600±$29k 16% below MA |
$498,800±$48k 11% below MA |
$422,000±$36kLowest 25% below MA |
$523,100±$47kHighest 7% below MA |
| Sutton and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,503±$697 15% below MA |
$1,699±$161 4% below MA |
$1,843±$268Highest 5% above MA |
$1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA |
| Westminster and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,338 6% above MA |
$6,757 13% above MA |
$4,973Lowest 17% below MA |
$6,763Highest 13% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.9%±17.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
46%±23.1 MA: 51.8% |
60%±27.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
| Westminster and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.8% MA: 10% |
6%Highest MA: 10% |
2.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.3% MA: 62.5% |
87.6% MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1980 16 yrs newer than MA |
1977Lowest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 16% above MA |
34 minHighest 18% above MA |
27 minLowest 7% below MA |
30 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 20.9%±4.9 MA: 18.6% |
18.3%±6.2 MA: 18.6% |
12.5%±4.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Sutton and Douglas 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 | #177 of 282 in MA | #135 of 282 in MA | #112 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Douglas | Wachusett | Ashburnham-Westminster | Sutton |
| High school in town | Douglas High School | None in town | Oakmont Regional High School | Sutton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.2Lowest |
— | 13.6Highest |
12.6 |
| 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.