Compare towns
Sterling vs Putnam vs Westminster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sterling has the most people working from home (18.3%).
Putnam has the most affordable homes ($269k median).
Westminster has the most kids (21.3% under 18).
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 | Putnam | Westminster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,183Lowest |
9,292Highest |
8,374 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +12.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.5±1.8Highest 32% above U.S. |
43.7±3Lowest 12% above U.S. |
48.3±4.6 24% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Westminster and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.9%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26%±5.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Sterling and Putnam 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 60% above U.S. |
$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$106,331±$22k 32% above U.S. |
| 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 50% above U.S. |
$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$422,000±$36k 27% above U.S. |
| 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 20% above U.S. |
$1,149±$44Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,843±$268Highest 30% above U.S. |
| 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 117% above U.S. |
$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S. |
$4,973 59% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46%±23.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
60%±27.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Westminster and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest same as U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 18.3%±6.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.5%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #128 of 149 in CT | #112 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Wachusett | Putnam School District | Ashburnham-Westminster |
| High school in town | None in town | Putnam High School | Oakmont Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.5Lowest |
13.6Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.