Compare towns
Sterling vs Webster vs Westminster vs Upton
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 oldest population (median age 51.5).
Webster has the most renters (40.2% rent).
Westminster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.9%).
Upton has the most people working from home (22.8%).
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 | Webster | Westminster | Upton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,183Lowest |
17,748Highest |
8,374 |
8,189 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
+12.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.5±1.8Highest 29% above MA |
39.9±2.9Lowest about the MA average |
48.3±4.6 21% above MA |
46.4±4.8 16% 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% |
19.6%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
21.3%±4.4 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Upton and Westminster 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% |
19.6%±2.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
26%±5.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9 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% MA: 47.3% |
25.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
45.9% MA: 47.3% |
53.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
5.8%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
1.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Webster 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 |
$72,895±$6kLowest 30% below MA |
$106,331±$22k about the MA average |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
| Upton and Sterling 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 |
$361,500±$12kLowest 36% below MA |
$422,000±$36k 25% below MA |
$576,700±$41kHighest about the MA average |
| Upton and Sterling 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 |
$1,228±$81 30% below MA |
$1,843±$268Highest 5% above MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% 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 |
$3,999Lowest 33% below MA |
$4,973 17% below MA |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46%±23.1 MA: 51.8% |
45.7%±6.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
60%±27.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
| Westminster and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6% MA: 10% |
12.7%Highest MA: 10% |
2.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.2% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3% MA: 62.5% |
59.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
87.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
86.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 16 yrs newer than MA |
1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA |
1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 18% above MA |
31 min 5% above MA |
27 minLowest 7% below MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
| Work from home | 18.3%±6.2 MA: 18.6% |
8%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
12.5%±4.2 MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Upton and Sterling 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 | #271 of 282 in MA | #112 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Wachusett | Webster | Ashburnham-Westminster | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton |
| High school in town | None in town | Bartlett High School | Oakmont Regional High School | Blackstone Valley |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.6 |
13.6Highest |
11.2Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.