Compare towns
Sturbridge vs Everett vs Westminster vs Charlton
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 most people working from home (19.8%).
Everett has the most renters (62.8% rent).
Westminster has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Charlton has the most kids (24.7% 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 | Sturbridge | Everett | Westminster | Charlton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,960 |
50,045Highest |
8,374Lowest |
13,435 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.5% MA: +7.4% |
+17.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+12.9% MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.2±2.6 18% above MA |
35.2±1.5Lowest 12% below MA |
48.3±4.6Highest 21% above MA |
43±4 8% 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% |
21.8%±2.1 MA: 19.4% |
21.3%±4.4 MA: 19.4% |
24.7%±3.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Charlton and Everett 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% |
11.3%±1.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
26%±5.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
18%±2.8 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% |
24.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
45.9% MA: 47.3% |
37.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
6.3%±0.9 MA: 7.9% |
1.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.8%±2.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Charlton and Everett 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 |
$85,218±$7kLowest 18% below MA |
$106,331±$22k about the MA average |
$117,587±$8k 13% above MA |
| Sturbridge and Charlton 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 |
$610,000±$23kHighest 9% above MA |
$422,000±$36kLowest 25% below MA |
$427,500±$19k 24% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,193±$398Lowest 32% below MA |
$2,076±$69Highest 18% above MA |
$1,843±$268 5% above MA |
$1,381±$415 22% below MA |
| Everett and Westminster 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 |
$4,880 19% below MA |
$4,973 17% below MA |
$4,617Lowest 23% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42%±17.7 MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±5.8 MA: 51.8% |
60%±27.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
41.3%±9.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Westminster and Everett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.7% MA: 10% |
14.7%Highest MA: 10% |
2.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
2.5% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3% MA: 62.5% |
37.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
87.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
84.9% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 18 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
1985Highest 21 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 30% above MA |
35 min 20% above MA |
27 minLowest 7% below MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 19.8%±4.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
12.5%±4.2 MA: 18.6% |
13%±4.2 MA: 18.6% |
| Sturbridge and Charlton 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 | #264 of 282 in MA | #112 of 282 in MA | #133 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Everett | Ashburnham-Westminster | Dudley-Charlton Reg · Southern Worcester County Regional Vocational School Distric |
| High school in town | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | Everett High | Oakmont Regional High School | Bay Path Regional Vocational Technical High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.7Lowest |
12.1 |
13.6Highest |
9.7 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.