Compare towns
Sturbridge vs Wareham vs Westminster vs Upton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wareham has the oldest population (median age 52.1).
Westminster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.9%).
Upton has the most expensive homes ($577k median).
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 | Wareham | Westminster | Upton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,960 |
23,302Highest |
8,374 |
8,189Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.5% MA: +7.4% |
+6.8% MA: +7.4% |
+12.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.2±2.6 18% above MA |
52.1±3.1Highest 30% above MA |
48.3±4.6 21% above MA |
46.4±4.8Lowest 16% above MA |
| Wareham 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% |
13.1%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.3%±4.4 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Upton and Westminster 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% |
26.2%±3.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
26%±5.7 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9 MA: 17.9% |
| Wareham 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% MA: 47.3% |
27.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
45.9% MA: 47.3% |
53.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
1.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Wareham 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±$15k 32% above MA |
$90,383±$11kLowest 13% below MA |
$106,331±$22k about the MA average |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
| Upton 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 |
$424,500±$21k 24% below MA |
$422,000±$36kLowest 25% below MA |
$576,700±$41kHighest about the MA average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,193±$398 32% below MA |
$1,504±$180 15% below MA |
$1,843±$268Highest 5% above MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
| Westminster and Wareham 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 |
$4,341Lowest 28% below MA |
$4,973 17% below MA |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42%±17.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
51.4%±23.3 MA: 51.8% |
60%±27.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
| Westminster and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.7% MA: 10% |
6.7%Highest MA: 10% |
2.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.2% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3% MA: 62.5% |
83.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
87.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
86.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA |
1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 30% above MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
27 minLowest 7% below MA |
35 min 22% above MA |
| Work from home | 19.8%±4.8 MA: 18.6% |
12.4%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
12.5%±4.2 MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Upton 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 | #272 of 282 in MA | #112 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Wareham | Ashburnham-Westminster | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton |
| High school in town | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | Wareham Senior High | Oakmont Regional High School | Blackstone Valley |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.7Lowest |
8.6 |
13.6Highest |
11.2 |
| 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.