Compare towns
Sterling vs Windsor Locks 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 highest household income ($129k).
Windsor Locks has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Putnam has the most renters (40.2% rent).
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 | Windsor Locks | Putnam | Westminster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,183Lowest |
12,579Highest |
9,292 |
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. |
41.4±2.6Lowest 6% above U.S. |
43.7±3 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%±3.4Lowest 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% |
18.2%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.1 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% |
28.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Windsor Locks 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 60% above U.S. |
$81,205±$13k about the U.S. average |
$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. |
$258,800±$14kLowest 22% below U.S. |
$269,200±$11k 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. |
$1,394±$187 about the U.S. average |
$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. |
$3,688Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$3,860 24% above U.S. |
$4,973 59% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46%±23.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
58.2%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
60%±27.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Westminster and Windsor Locks 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% |
10.9% 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% |
77.1% 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. |
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. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 18.3%±6.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.5%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sterling and Windsor Locks 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 | #109 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT | #112 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Wachusett | Windsor Locks School District | Putnam School District | Ashburnham-Westminster |
| High school in town | None in town | Windsor Locks High School | Putnam High School | Oakmont Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.9Lowest |
9.5 |
13.6Highest |
| 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.