Compare towns
Sturbridge vs Epping vs Westminster vs Sutton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Epping has the most people working from home (24%).
Westminster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.9%).
Sutton has the most expensive homes ($523k median).
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 | Epping | Westminster | Sutton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,960Highest |
7,430Lowest |
8,374 |
9,452 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.2±2.6 21% above U.S. |
45.1±3.5 16% above U.S. |
48.3±4.6Highest 24% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5Lowest 14% 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%±3 U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
26%±5.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Westminster and Epping 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% |
37%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Epping 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. |
$104,220±$7kLowest 29% above U.S. |
$106,331±$22k 32% above U.S. |
$147,125±$25kHighest 82% above U.S. |
| Sutton 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 28% above U.S. |
$436,900±$35k 31% above U.S. |
$422,000±$36kLowest 27% above U.S. |
$523,100±$47kHighest 57% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,193±$398 16% below U.S. |
$1,742±$576 23% above U.S. |
$1,843±$268Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,190±$401Lowest 16% below U.S. |
| Westminster and Epping 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. |
$6,936Highest 122% above U.S. |
$4,973Lowest 59% above U.S. |
$6,763 117% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42%±17.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
60%±27.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Epping and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 43% above U.S. |
32 min 22% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.8%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.5%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Epping and Sutton 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 | #77 of 120 in NH | #112 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Epping School District | Ashburnham-Westminster | Sutton |
| High school in town | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | Epping High School | Oakmont Regional High School | Sutton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.7Lowest |
9.3 |
13.6Highest |
12.6 |
| 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.