Compare towns
Sturbridge vs Ware vs Brookfield 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 people working from home (19.8%).
Ware has the most renters (27.7% rent).
Brookfield has the oldest population (median age 52.4).
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 | Ware | Brookfield | Westminster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,960 |
10,048Highest |
3,460Lowest |
8,374 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.5% MA: +7.4% |
+2% MA: +7.4% |
+1.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+12.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.2±2.6 18% above MA |
43.1±4.7Lowest 8% above MA |
52.4±2.1Highest 31% above MA |
48.3±4.6 21% above MA |
| 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 MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
13.4%±4.7Lowest 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%±3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
28.4%±5.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
26%±5.7 MA: 17.9% |
| 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%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
28.9% MA: 47.3% |
45.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±3.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
1.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Brookfield 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±$15kHighest 32% above MA |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% below MA |
$81,250±$37k 22% 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±$18kHighest 24% below MA |
$289,700±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
$341,900±$23k 39% below MA |
$422,000±$36k 25% below MA |
| 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 32% below MA |
$1,043±$109 41% below MA |
$1,014±$161Lowest 42% below MA |
$1,843±$268Highest 5% above MA |
| Westminster and Sturbridge 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 |
$4,237Lowest 29% below MA |
$5,092 15% below MA |
$4,973 17% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42%±17.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
50.7%±11.7 MA: 51.8% |
60%±27.3 MA: 51.8% |
| Ware 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% |
11.8%Highest MA: 10% |
8.9% MA: 10% |
2.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3% MA: 62.5% |
72.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
87.5% MA: 62.5% |
87.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 30% above MA |
28 min about the MA average |
32 min 11% above MA |
27 minLowest 7% below MA |
| Work from home | 19.8%±4.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
12%±5.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
12.5%±4.2 MA: 18.6% |
| Sturbridge and Westminster 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 | #267 of 282 in MA | #109 of 282 in MA | #112 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Ware | Brookfield | Ashburnham-Westminster |
| High school in town | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | Ware Junior/Senior High School | None in town | Oakmont Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.7Lowest |
11.1 |
— | 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.