Compare towns
Sturbridge vs Hanson vs Sutton 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 most renters (13.7% rent).
Hanson has the youngest population (median age 42.8).
Sutton has the most people working from home (22.7%).
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 | Hanson | Sutton | Westminster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,960 |
10,660Highest |
9,452 |
8,374Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.5% MA: +7.4% |
+4.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+12.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.2±2.6 18% above MA |
42.8±3Lowest 7% above MA |
44.3±2.5 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%±3 MA: 19.4% |
21.6%±3.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.3%±4.4 MA: 19.4% |
| Hanson 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% |
19.7%±3 MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2Lowest 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% |
42.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
52.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
45.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
1.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Hanson 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 |
$132,200±$10k 27% above MA |
$147,125±$25kHighest 42% above MA |
$106,331±$22kLowest about the MA average |
| 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 24% below MA |
$533,900±$36kHighest 5% below MA |
$523,100±$47k 7% below MA |
$422,000±$36kLowest 25% below MA |
| Hanson and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,193±$398 32% below MA |
$1,821±$860 3% above MA |
$1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA |
$1,843±$268Highest 5% above MA |
| Westminster and Hanson 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 |
$6,402 7% above MA |
$6,763Highest 13% above MA |
$4,973Lowest 17% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42%±17.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
69%±33.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
60%±27.3 MA: 51.8% |
| Hanson and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.7% MA: 10% |
2.7% MA: 10% |
5.8%Highest MA: 10% |
2.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89% MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
87.6% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
1972Lowest 8 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 30% above MA |
34 min 15% above MA |
30 min about the MA average |
27 minLowest 7% below MA |
| Work from home | 19.8%±4.8 MA: 18.6% |
7.9%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.5%±4.2 MA: 18.6% |
| Sutton 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 | #149 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA | #112 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Whitman-Hanson | Sutton | Ashburnham-Westminster |
| High school in town | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | Whitman Hanson Regional | Sutton High School | Oakmont Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.7Lowest |
14.7Highest |
12.6 |
13.6 |
| 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.