Compare towns
Sterling vs Sutton vs Westminster vs Marion
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 renters (13.7% rent).
Sutton has the most people working from home (22.7%).
Westminster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.9%).
Marion has the most expensive homes ($654k 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 | Sutton | Westminster | Marion |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,183 |
9,452Highest |
8,374 |
5,310Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+12.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.5±1.8 29% above MA |
44.3±2.5Lowest 11% above MA |
48.3±4.6 21% above MA |
53.8±4Highest 35% above MA |
| Marion 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% |
19.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
21.3%±4.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.7%±4.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Westminster and Sutton 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% |
18.8%±3.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
26%±5.7 MA: 17.9% |
27.3%±5.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Marion 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% MA: 47.3% |
52.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
45.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
46.7% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
1.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
7.7%±4.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Marion 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 |
$147,125±$25kHighest 42% above MA |
$106,331±$22kLowest about the MA average |
$143,092±$30k 38% above MA |
| Sutton and Marion 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 |
$523,100±$47k 7% below MA |
$422,000±$36kLowest 25% below MA |
$653,500±$47kHighest 16% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,699±$161 4% below MA |
$1,190±$401 32% below MA |
$1,843±$268Highest 5% above MA |
$1,176±$516Lowest 33% 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 |
$6,763Highest 13% above MA |
$4,973Lowest 17% below MA |
$5,766 4% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46%±23.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
60%±27.3 MA: 51.8% |
75.8%±26.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Marion and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6% MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
2.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.7% MA: 62.5% |
87.6% MA: 62.5% |
90.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 16 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 18% above MA |
30 min about the MA average |
27 minLowest 7% below MA |
34 min 15% above MA |
| Work from home | 18.3%±6.2 MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.5%±4.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20.1%±8.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Sutton and Marion 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 | #105 of 282 in MA | #112 of 282 in MA | #141 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Wachusett | Sutton | Ashburnham-Westminster | Marion |
| High school in town | None in town | Sutton High School | Oakmont Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.6Lowest |
13.6Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.