Compare towns
Sturbridge vs Salem 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 highest household income ($137k).
Salem has the most renters (50.3% rent).
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 | Salem | Westminster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,960 |
44,795Highest |
8,374Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.6% MA: +7.4% |
+12.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.2±2.6 18% above MA |
39.3±1.5Lowest about the MA average |
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% |
15.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.3%±4.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
| 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 MA: 17.9% |
17.2%±1.7Lowest 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%Highest MA: 47.3% |
47.8% MA: 47.3% |
45.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
8.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
1.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $136,759±$15kHighest 32% above MA |
$85,153±$5kLowest 18% below MA |
$106,331±$22k about the MA average |
| Sturbridge and Westminster 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 |
$542,800±$18kHighest 3% below MA |
$422,000±$36kLowest 25% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,193±$398Lowest 32% below MA |
$1,836±$84 4% above MA |
$1,843±$268Highest 5% above MA |
| Westminster and Salem 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 |
$6,114 about the MA average |
$4,973Lowest 17% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42%±17.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
54.9%±4.8 MA: 51.8% |
60%±27.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Westminster and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.7% MA: 10% |
12.1%Highest MA: 10% |
2.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3% MA: 62.5% |
49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
87.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 30% above MA |
29 min about the MA average |
27 minLowest 7% below MA |
| Work from home | 19.8%±4.8 MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±2.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.5%±4.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Salem 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 | #248 of 282 in MA | #112 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Salem | Ashburnham-Westminster |
| High school in town | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | Salem High | Oakmont Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.7Lowest |
9.8 |
13.6Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.