Compare towns
Dummerston vs Sterling vs Westminster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dummerston has the most people working from home (25.9%).
Sterling has the highest household income ($129k).
Westminster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.9%).
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 | Dummerston | Sterling | Westminster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,090Lowest |
8,183 |
8,374Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.6±11.7Lowest 17% above U.S. |
51.5±1.8Highest 32% above U.S. |
48.3±4.6 24% above U.S. |
| Sterling and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Dummerston and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.3%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.9%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26%±5.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Westminster and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 58.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
45.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Sterling and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $101,696±$21kLowest 26% above U.S. |
$129,063±$27kHighest 60% above U.S. |
$106,331±$22k 32% above U.S. |
| Sterling and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $335,300±$22kLowest about the U.S. average |
$498,800±$48kHighest 50% above U.S. |
$422,000±$36k 27% above U.S. |
| Sterling and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,392±$126Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,699±$161 20% above U.S. |
$1,843±$268Highest 30% above U.S. |
| Westminster and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,536Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$6,757Highest 117% above U.S. |
$4,973 59% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±32.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46%±23.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
60%±27.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Westminster and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 25.9%±10.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.3%±6.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.5%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dummerston and Sterling 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 | — | #135 of 282 in MA | #112 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Wachusett | Ashburnham-Westminster |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Oakmont Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 13.6 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.