Compare towns
Sturbridge vs Ayer vs Westminster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sturbridge has the highest household income ($137k).
Ayer has the most renters (30.8% rent).
Westminster has the shortest commute (27 min average).
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 | Ayer | Westminster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,960Highest |
8,645 |
8,374Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+12.9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.2±2.6 18% above MA |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average |
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%±3 MA: 19.4% |
20.3%±3.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.3%±4.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Westminster and Sturbridge 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% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest 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%Highest MA: 47.3% |
42.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
45.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
1.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Sturbridge and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $136,759±$15kHighest 32% above MA |
$101,875±$15kLowest about the MA average |
$106,331±$22k about the MA average |
| Sturbridge and Westminster 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 |
$463,800±$29kHighest 17% below MA |
$422,000±$36kLowest 25% below MA |
| Ayer and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,193±$398Lowest 32% below MA |
$1,415±$180 20% below MA |
$1,843±$268Highest 5% above MA |
| Westminster and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,520Highest 9% above MA |
$5,057 16% below MA |
$4,973Lowest 17% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42%±17.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±14.2 MA: 51.8% |
60%±27.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Westminster and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.7% MA: 10% |
10.7%Highest MA: 10% |
2.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3% MA: 62.5% |
69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
87.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
1977Lowest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1977Lowest 13 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 30% above MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
27 minLowest 7% below MA |
| Work from home | 19.8%±4.8 MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±5.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.5%±4.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Ayer and Sturbridge 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 | #89 of 282 in MA | #113 of 282 in MA | #112 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Ayer Shirley School District | Ashburnham-Westminster |
| High school in town | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Oakmont Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.7Lowest |
11.5 |
13.6Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.