Compare towns
Hamilton vs Sturbridge vs Westminster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hamilton has the most expensive homes ($720k median).
Sturbridge has the highest household income ($137k).
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 | Hamilton | Sturbridge | Westminster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,600Lowest |
9,960Highest |
8,374 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.5% MA: +7.4% |
+12.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.5±2.1Lowest 9% above MA |
47.2±2.6 18% 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 | 24%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.7%±3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.3%±4.4 MA: 19.4% |
| Hamilton and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±3.8 MA: 17.9% |
19.8%±3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
26%±5.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Westminster and Hamilton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 68.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
49.3% MA: 47.3% |
45.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
1.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Hamilton and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $129,833±$14k 25% above MA |
$136,759±$15kHighest 32% above MA |
$106,331±$22kLowest about the MA average |
| Sturbridge and Hamilton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $720,000±$36kHighest 28% above MA |
$425,800±$18k 24% below MA |
$422,000±$36kLowest 25% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,794±$394 about the MA average |
$1,193±$398Lowest 32% below MA |
$1,843±$268Highest 5% above MA |
| Westminster and Hamilton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,520 9% above MA |
$4,973Lowest 17% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65.8%±23.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
42%±17.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
60%±27.3 MA: 51.8% |
| Hamilton and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.8%Highest MA: 10% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
2.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.3% MA: 62.5% |
87.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA |
1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 11% above MA |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
27 minLowest 7% below MA |
| Work from home | 26.3%±5.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
19.8%±4.8 MA: 18.6% |
12.5%±4.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Hamilton 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 | #36 of 282 in MA | #89 of 282 in MA | #112 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hamilton-Wenham | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Ashburnham-Westminster |
| High school in town | Hamilton-Wenham Regional High | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | Oakmont Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.8 |
7.7Lowest |
13.6Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.