Compare towns
Sterling vs Douglas vs Westminster vs Upton
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 oldest population (median age 51.5).
Douglas has the youngest population (median age 44).
Westminster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.9%).
Upton has the most expensive homes ($577k median).
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 | Douglas | Westminster | Upton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,183Lowest |
9,207Highest |
8,374 |
8,189 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
+12.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.5±1.8Highest 29% above MA |
44±2.6Lowest 10% above MA |
48.3±4.6 21% above MA |
46.4±4.8 16% above MA |
| Sterling and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±4.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±3.8 MA: 19.4% |
21.3%±4.4 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Upton and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.9%±4 MA: 17.9% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
26%±5.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9 MA: 17.9% |
| Westminster and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.3% MA: 47.3% |
41.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
45.9% MA: 47.3% |
53.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
1.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Douglas 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±$27k 24% above MA |
$152,267±$10k 46% above MA |
$106,331±$22kLowest about the MA average |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
| Upton and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $498,800±$48k 11% below MA |
$470,600±$29k 16% below MA |
$422,000±$36kLowest 25% below MA |
$576,700±$41kHighest about the MA average |
| Upton and Sterling 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 |
$1,503±$697 15% below MA |
$1,843±$268Highest 5% above MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% 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 | $6,757 13% above MA |
$6,338 6% above MA |
$4,973Lowest 17% below MA |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46%±23.1 MA: 51.8% |
33.9%±17.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
60%±27.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
| Westminster and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6%Highest MA: 10% |
4.8% MA: 10% |
2.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.2% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3% MA: 62.5% |
83.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
87.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
86.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 16 yrs newer than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1977Lowest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 18% above MA |
34 min 16% above MA |
27 minLowest 7% below MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
| Work from home | 18.3%±6.2 MA: 18.6% |
20.9%±4.9 MA: 18.6% |
12.5%±4.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Upton and Douglas 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 | #177 of 282 in MA | #112 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Wachusett | Douglas | Ashburnham-Westminster | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton |
| High school in town | None in town | Douglas High School | Oakmont Regional High School | Blackstone Valley |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.2Lowest |
13.6Highest |
11.2 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.