Compare towns
Sturbridge vs Bow 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
Sturbridge has the most renters (13.7% rent).
Bow has the highest household income ($173k).
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 | Bow | Westminster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,960Highest |
8,335Lowest |
8,374 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.2±2.6 21% above U.S. |
41.5±2Lowest 7% above U.S. |
48.3±4.6Highest 24% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
25%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Bow and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.8%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26%±5.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
60.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bow 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 69% above U.S. |
$172,857±$16kHighest 114% above U.S. |
$106,331±$22kLowest 32% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $425,800±$18k 28% above U.S. |
$506,500±$34kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$422,000±$36kLowest 27% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,193±$398Lowest 16% below U.S. |
$1,539±$178 9% above U.S. |
$1,843±$268Highest 30% above U.S. |
| Westminster and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,520 109% above U.S. |
$9,584Highest 207% above U.S. |
$4,973Lowest 59% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
39%±13.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
60%±27.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Westminster and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 43% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 19.8%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.5%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bow 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 | #26 of 120 in NH | #112 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Bow School District | Ashburnham-Westminster |
| High school in town | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | Bow High School | Oakmont Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.7Lowest |
12.8 |
13.6Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.