Compare towns
Sterling vs Lee 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).
Lee has the shortest commute (18 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 | Lee | Westminster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,183 |
5,719Lowest |
8,374Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3% MA: +7.4% |
-2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+12.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.5±1.8 29% above MA |
55.2±5.8Highest 38% above MA |
48.3±4.6Lowest 21% above MA |
| Lee 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% |
12.6%±5Lowest 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% |
33.4%±6.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
26%±5.7 MA: 17.9% |
| Lee 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% |
44.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
45.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
5%±2.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
1.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Lee 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 |
$83,750±$13kLowest 19% 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 |
$352,700±$19kLowest 37% 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 |
$1,375±$212Lowest 22% 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 |
$3,980Lowest 34% below MA |
$4,973 17% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46%±23.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.3%±21.2 MA: 51.8% |
60%±27.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Westminster and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6% MA: 10% |
7.2%Highest MA: 10% |
2.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3% MA: 62.5% |
71.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
87.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
1959Lowest 5 yrs older than MA |
1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 18% above MA |
18 minLowest 38% below MA |
27 min 7% below MA |
| Work from home | 18.3%±6.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
16.4%±7.8 MA: 18.6% |
12.5%±4.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Sterling and Lee 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 | #209 of 282 in MA | #112 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Wachusett | Lee | Ashburnham-Westminster |
| High school in town | None in town | Lee Middle/High School | Oakmont Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.2Lowest |
13.6Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 20 photos → | 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.