Compare towns
Merrimac vs Westminster vs Sterling
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Merrimac has the most expensive homes ($553k median).
Westminster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.9%).
Sterling has the most people working from home (18.3%).
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 | Merrimac | Westminster | Sterling |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,748Lowest |
8,374Highest |
8,183 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.1% MA: +7.4% |
+12.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.4±6.8 24% above MA |
48.3±4.6Lowest 21% above MA |
51.5±1.8Highest 29% above MA |
| Sterling and Merrimac are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.5%±6.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.3%±4.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±4.1 MA: 19.4% |
| Westminster and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.7%±5.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
26%±5.7 MA: 17.9% |
22.9%±4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Merrimac and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
45.9% MA: 47.3% |
48.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
1.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Sterling and Merrimac are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $123,054±$16k 18% above MA |
$106,331±$22kLowest about the MA average |
$129,063±$27kHighest 24% above MA |
| Sterling and Merrimac are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $553,400±$38kHighest about the MA average |
$422,000±$36kLowest 25% below MA |
$498,800±$48k 11% below MA |
| Merrimac and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,352±$325Lowest 23% below MA |
$1,843±$268Highest 5% above MA |
$1,699±$161 4% 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 | $7,399Highest 23% above MA |
$4,973Lowest 17% below MA |
$6,757 13% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.3%±29.1 MA: 51.8% |
60%±27.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
46%±23.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Westminster and Merrimac are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.4%Highest MA: 10% |
2.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
87.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
86.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
1977Lowest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1980 16 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 10% above MA |
27 minLowest 7% below MA |
34 minHighest 18% above MA |
| Work from home | 8.5%±3.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
12.5%±4.2 MA: 18.6% |
18.3%±6.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Sterling and Westminster 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 | #188 of 282 in MA | #112 of 282 in MA | #135 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Pentucket | Ashburnham-Westminster | Wachusett |
| High school in town | None in town | Oakmont Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.6 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.