Compare towns
Sterling vs Hatfield 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 highest household income ($129k).
Hatfield has the shortest commute (20 min average).
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 | Hatfield | Westminster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,183 |
3,325Lowest |
8,374Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3% MA: +7.4% |
+2.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+12.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.5±1.8Highest 29% above MA |
46.8±5Lowest 17% above MA |
48.3±4.6 21% 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%±4.1 MA: 19.4% |
14%±4.3Lowest 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% |
23.3%±4.6 MA: 17.9% |
26%±5.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Westminster and Hatfield 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% |
48.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
45.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
1.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Hatfield 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 |
$89,005±$25kLowest 14% 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 |
$440,800±$26k 22% below MA |
$422,000±$36kLowest 25% below MA |
| Sterling and Hatfield 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 |
$1,267±$216Lowest 28% 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 |
$4,930Lowest 18% below MA |
$4,973 17% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46%±23.1 MA: 51.8% |
42.6%±11.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
60%±27.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Westminster and Sterling 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% MA: 62.5% |
74.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
87.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA |
1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 18% above MA |
20 minLowest 30% below MA |
27 min 7% below MA |
| Work from home | 18.3%±6.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
16%±6.3 MA: 18.6% |
12.5%±4.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Sterling and Hatfield 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 | #198 of 282 in MA | #112 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Wachusett | Hatfield | Ashburnham-Westminster |
| High school in town | None in town | Smith Academy | Oakmont Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 6.1Lowest |
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.