Compare towns
Gardner vs Sturbridge vs Sutton vs Westminster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Gardner has the most renters (41.1% rent).
Sutton has the most expensive homes ($523k median).
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 | Gardner | Sturbridge | Sutton | Westminster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 21,148Highest |
9,960 |
9,452 |
8,374Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2% MA: +7.4% |
+6.5% MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+12.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3Lowest 9% above MA |
47.2±2.6 18% above MA |
44.3±2.5 11% above MA |
48.3±4.6Highest 21% above MA |
| Westminster and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.3%±2.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.7%±3 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
21.3%±4.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Westminster and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.6%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
19.8%±3 MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
26%±5.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Westminster and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
49.3% MA: 47.3% |
52.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
45.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
1.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $67,518±$8kLowest 35% below MA |
$136,759±$15k 32% above MA |
$147,125±$25kHighest 42% above MA |
$106,331±$22k about the MA average |
| Sutton and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $301,600±$20kLowest 46% below MA |
$425,800±$18k 24% below MA |
$523,100±$47kHighest 7% below MA |
$422,000±$36k 25% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,109±$51Lowest 37% below MA |
$1,193±$398 32% below MA |
$1,190±$401 32% below MA |
$1,843±$268Highest 5% above MA |
| Westminster and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,150Lowest 31% below MA |
$6,520 9% above MA |
$6,763Highest 13% above MA |
$4,973 17% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.7%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
42%±17.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
60%±27.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Westminster and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 13.7%Highest MA: 10% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
2.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.3% MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
87.6% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 5% above MA |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
30 min about the MA average |
27 minLowest 7% below MA |
| Work from home | 13.3%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
19.8%±4.8 MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.5%±4.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Sutton and Sturbridge 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 | #273 of 282 in MA | #89 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA | #112 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Gardner | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Sutton | Ashburnham-Westminster |
| High school in town | Gardner High | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | Sutton High School | Oakmont Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5 |
7.7Lowest |
12.6 |
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.