Compare towns
Sturbridge vs Middlesex vs Brookfield 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 highest household income ($137k).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Brookfield has the most affordable homes ($342k median).
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 | Middlesex | Brookfield | Westminster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,960Highest |
1,943Lowest |
3,460 |
8,374 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.2±2.6 21% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9Lowest 14% above U.S. |
52.4±2.1Highest 35% above U.S. |
48.3±4.6 24% above U.S. |
| Brookfield and Westminster 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% |
21.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.4%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 19.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.4%±5.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
26%±5.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Brookfield and Westminster 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% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brookfield and Middlesex 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 69% above U.S. |
$109,632±$13k 36% above U.S. |
$81,250±$37kLowest about the U.S. average |
$106,331±$22k 32% above U.S. |
| Sturbridge and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $425,800±$18kHighest 28% above U.S. |
$376,300±$40k 13% above U.S. |
$341,900±$23kLowest about the U.S. average |
$422,000±$36k 27% above U.S. |
| Sturbridge and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,193±$398 16% below U.S. |
$1,333±$359 6% below U.S. |
$1,014±$161Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,843±$268Highest 30% above U.S. |
| Westminster and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,520Highest 109% above U.S. |
$6,483 108% above U.S. |
$5,092 63% above U.S. |
$4,973Lowest 59% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.7%±11.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
60%±27.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Westminster and Brookfield 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% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 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 min 4% above U.S. |
32 min 23% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 19.8%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12%±5.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.5%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex 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 | — | #109 of 282 in MA | #112 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Brookfield | Ashburnham-Westminster |
| High school in town | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | None in town | None in town | Oakmont Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.7Lowest |
— | — | 13.6Highest |
| 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.