Compare towns
Sturbridge vs Acton vs Westminster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Acton has the most expensive homes ($807k median).
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 | Sturbridge | Acton | Westminster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,960 |
24,155Highest |
8,374Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6% MA: +7.4% |
+12.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.2±2.6 18% above MA |
44.5±0.8Lowest 11% above MA |
48.3±4.6Highest 21% above MA |
| Westminster and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.7%±3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.3%±4.4 MA: 19.4% |
| Acton and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.8%±3 MA: 17.9% |
17.6%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
26%±5.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Westminster and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 49.3% MA: 47.3% |
79.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
45.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
1.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Acton and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $136,759±$15k 32% above MA |
$158,230±$14kHighest 52% above MA |
$106,331±$22kLowest about the MA average |
| Acton and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $425,800±$18k 24% below MA |
$807,300±$20kHighest 44% above MA |
$422,000±$36kLowest 25% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,193±$398Lowest 32% below MA |
$1,986±$155Highest 13% above MA |
$1,843±$268 5% above MA |
| Acton and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,520 9% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$4,973Lowest 17% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42%±17.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
47.7%±11.3 MA: 51.8% |
60%±27.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Westminster and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.7%Highest MA: 10% |
3.4% MA: 10% |
2.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3% MA: 62.5% |
74.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
87.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
1974Lowest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 30% above MA |
35 min 19% above MA |
27 minLowest 7% below MA |
| Work from home | 19.8%±4.8 MA: 18.6% |
35.9%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.5%±4.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #89 of 282 in MA | #13 of 282 in MA | #112 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Acton-Boxborough | Ashburnham-Westminster |
| High school in town | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | Oakmont Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.7Lowest |
13.5 |
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.