Compare towns
Sterling vs Townsend 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 most people working from home (18.3%).
Townsend has the youngest population (median age 40.9).
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 | Townsend | Westminster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,183Lowest |
9,100Highest |
8,374 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+12.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.5±1.8Highest 29% above MA |
40.9±3.3Lowest about the MA average |
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%±4.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21%±3.2 MA: 19.4% |
21.3%±4.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Westminster and Townsend 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% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
26%±5.7Highest 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%Highest MA: 47.3% |
35.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
45.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
1.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Townsend 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 |
$121,528±$23k 17% above MA |
$106,331±$22kLowest about the MA average |
| Sterling and Townsend 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 |
$433,200±$22k 23% below MA |
$422,000±$36kLowest 25% below MA |
| Sterling and Townsend 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 |
$1,469±$313Lowest 17% 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 |
$6,031 about the MA average |
$4,973Lowest 17% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46%±23.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±16.8 MA: 51.8% |
60%±27.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Westminster and Townsend 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% |
82%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
87.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
1976Lowest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 18% above MA |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
27 minLowest 7% below MA |
| Work from home | 18.3%±6.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
12.5%±4.2 MA: 18.6% |
| 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 | #136 of 282 in MA | #112 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Wachusett | North Middlesex | Ashburnham-Westminster |
| High school in town | None in town | North Middlesex Regional | Oakmont Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.1Lowest |
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.