Compare towns
Sturbridge vs Sutton vs Wakefield vs Westminster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sutton has the highest household income ($147k).
Wakefield has the most expensive homes ($724k 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 | Sutton | Wakefield | Westminster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,960 |
9,452 |
27,793Highest |
8,374Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.5% MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.7% MA: +7.4% |
+12.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.2±2.6 18% above MA |
44.3±2.5 11% above MA |
42.4±1.7Lowest 6% 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% |
19.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20%±2.2 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% |
18.8%±3.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19%±1.9 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% |
52.8% MA: 47.3% |
59.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
45.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±0.9 MA: 7.9% |
1.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Sturbridge and Wakefield 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 |
$147,125±$25kHighest 42% above MA |
$134,306±$14k 29% 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 |
$523,100±$47k 7% below MA |
$723,500±$24kHighest 29% above MA |
$422,000±$36kLowest 25% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,193±$398 32% below MA |
$1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA |
$1,958±$102Highest 11% above MA |
$1,843±$268 5% above MA |
| Wakefield and Westminster 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 |
$6,763 13% above MA |
$7,779Highest 30% above MA |
$4,973Lowest 17% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42%±17.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
43.7%±7.9 MA: 51.8% |
60%±27.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Westminster and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.7% MA: 10% |
5.8%Highest MA: 10% |
4.9% MA: 10% |
2.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3% MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
70.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
87.6% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 30% above MA |
30 min about the MA average |
33 min 14% above MA |
27 minLowest 7% below MA |
| Work from home | 19.8%±4.8 MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.5%±4.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Wakefield 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 | #105 of 282 in MA | #179 of 282 in MA | #112 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Sutton | Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational Technical · Wakefield | Ashburnham-Westminster |
| High school in town | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | Sutton High School | Northeast Metro Regional Vocational | Oakmont Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.7Lowest |
12.6 |
10.7 |
13.6Highest |
| 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.