Compare towns
Sterling vs Brookfield vs Westminster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sterling has the most people working from home (18.3%).
Brookfield has the most affordable homes ($342k 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 | Sterling | Brookfield | Westminster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,183 |
3,460Lowest |
8,374Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3% MA: +7.4% |
+1.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+12.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.5±1.8 29% above MA |
52.4±2.1Highest 31% above MA |
48.3±4.6Lowest 21% above MA |
| Brookfield and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±4.1 MA: 19.4% |
13.4%±4.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.3%±4.4Highest 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+ | 22.9%±4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
28.4%±5.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
26%±5.7 MA: 17.9% |
| Brookfield and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
28.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
45.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±3.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
1.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Brookfield and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $129,063±$27kHighest 24% above MA |
$81,250±$37kLowest 22% below MA |
$106,331±$22k about the MA average |
| Sterling and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $498,800±$48kHighest 11% below MA |
$341,900±$23kLowest 39% below MA |
$422,000±$36k 25% below MA |
| Sterling and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,699±$161 4% below MA |
$1,014±$161Lowest 42% below MA |
$1,843±$268Highest 5% above MA |
| Westminster and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,757Highest 13% above MA |
$5,092 15% below MA |
$4,973Lowest 17% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46%±23.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
50.7%±11.7 MA: 51.8% |
60%±27.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Westminster and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6% MA: 10% |
8.9%Highest MA: 10% |
2.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
87.5% MA: 62.5% |
87.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 16 yrs newer than MA |
1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
1977Lowest 13 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 18% above MA |
32 min 11% above MA |
27 minLowest 7% below MA |
| Work from home | 18.3%±6.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
12%±5.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
12.5%±4.2 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 | #135 of 282 in MA | #109 of 282 in MA | #112 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Wachusett | Brookfield | 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 |
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.