Compare towns
Sturbridge vs Washington vs Upton vs Westminster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Washington has the most expensive homes ($660k median).
Upton has the highest household income ($156k).
Westminster has the most homeowners (87.6%).
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 | Washington | Upton | Westminster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,960Highest |
3,676Lowest |
8,189 |
8,374 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +6.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.2±2.6 21% above U.S. |
49.9±5.5Highest 28% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8Lowest 19% above U.S. |
48.3±4.6 24% above U.S. |
| Washington 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 U.S.: 22% |
19%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
26%±5.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Washington 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
45.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Washington 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 69% above U.S. |
$101,549±$16kLowest 26% above U.S. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$106,331±$22k 32% above U.S. |
| 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 28% above U.S. |
$660,200±$130kHighest 98% above U.S. |
$576,700±$41k 73% above U.S. |
$422,000±$36kLowest 27% above U.S. |
| Washington and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,193±$398 16% below U.S. |
$1,204±$264 15% below U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,843±$268Highest 30% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,520 109% above U.S. |
$4,709Lowest 51% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$4,973 59% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
26.1%±24Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
60%±27.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
79%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 43% above U.S. |
26 minLowest 3% below U.S. |
35 min 34% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 19.8%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.1%±9 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.5%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Upton and Washington 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 | #17 of 149 in CT | #46 of 282 in MA | #112 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Regional School District 12 | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Ashburnham-Westminster |
| High school in town | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | Shepaug Valley School | Blackstone Valley | Oakmont Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.7Lowest |
9.1 |
11.2 |
13.6Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.