Compare towns
Sturbridge vs Sutton vs Worcester 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 most expensive homes ($523k median).
Worcester has the most renters (57.2% rent).
Westminster has the most kids (21.3% 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 | Sutton | Worcester | Westminster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,960 |
9,452 |
207,055Highest |
8,374Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.5% MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+14.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+12.9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.2±2.6 18% above MA |
44.3±2.5 11% above MA |
33.9±0.5Lowest 15% below 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% |
19.6%±0.8Lowest 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%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
13.3%±0.6Lowest 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%Highest MA: 47.3% |
35.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
45.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
14.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
1.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $136,759±$15k 32% above MA |
$147,125±$25kHighest 42% above MA |
$70,102±$2kLowest 33% below MA |
$106,331±$22k 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±$47kHighest 7% below MA |
$374,400±$7kLowest 33% below MA |
$422,000±$36k 25% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,193±$398 32% below MA |
$1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA |
$1,487±$38 16% below MA |
$1,843±$268Highest 5% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,520 9% above MA |
$6,763Highest 13% above MA |
$4,733Lowest 21% below MA |
$4,973 17% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42%±17.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
54.2%±2.9 MA: 51.8% |
60%±27.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Westminster and Worcester 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% MA: 10% |
19.6%Highest MA: 10% |
2.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3% MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
42.8%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 |
1951Lowest 13 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 |
24 minLowest 17% below MA |
27 min 7% below MA |
| Work from home | 19.8%±4.8 MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
11.5%±1Lowest 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 | #105 of 282 in MA | #266 of 282 in MA | #112 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Sutton | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | Ashburnham-Westminster |
| High school in town | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | Sutton High School | South High Community | Oakmont Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.7Lowest |
12.6 |
14.6Highest |
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.