Compare towns
Sterling vs Westminster vs Woonsocket vs Sturbridge
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 expensive homes ($499k median).
Westminster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.9%).
Woonsocket has the most renters (62.8% rent).
Sturbridge has the most people working from home (19.8%).
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 | Westminster | Woonsocket | Sturbridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,183Lowest |
8,374 |
43,521Highest |
9,960 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.5±1.8Highest 32% above U.S. |
48.3±4.6 24% above U.S. |
35.7±1.3Lowest 8% below U.S. |
47.2±2.6 21% 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% |
21.3%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
23.3%±2Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±3 U.S.: 22% |
| Woonsocket and Westminster 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% |
26%±5.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±3 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
45.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
19.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
49.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Woonsocket 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 60% above U.S. |
$106,331±$22k 32% above U.S. |
$61,059±$5kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$136,759±$15kHighest 69% above U.S. |
| Sturbridge 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±$48kHighest 50% above U.S. |
$422,000±$36k 27% above U.S. |
$311,000±$15kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$425,800±$18k 28% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,699±$161 20% above U.S. |
$1,843±$268Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,161±$48Lowest 18% below U.S. |
$1,193±$398 16% below 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. |
$4,973 59% above U.S. |
$3,960Lowest 27% above U.S. |
$6,520 109% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46%±23.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
60%±27.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.7%±5.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
42%±17.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Westminster and Woonsocket 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% |
2.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
18.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
37.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 30% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
38 minHighest 43% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.3%±6.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.5%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.4%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sturbridge 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 | #112 of 282 in MA | #37 of 38 in RI | #89 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Wachusett | Ashburnham-Westminster | RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket | Sturbridge · Tantasqua |
| High school in town | None in town | Oakmont Regional High School | Woonsocket High School | Tantasqua Regional Sr High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.6 |
15.2Highest |
7.7Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.