Compare towns
Sturbridge vs Wayne vs Westminster vs Brookfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sturbridge has the highest household income ($137k).
Wayne has the most people working from home (26.2%).
Westminster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.9%).
Brookfield has the most affordable homes ($342k 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 | Wayne | Westminster | Brookfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,960Highest |
1,101Lowest |
8,374 |
3,460 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.2±2.6Lowest 21% above U.S. |
55.6±5.3Highest 43% above U.S. |
48.3±4.6 24% above U.S. |
52.4±2.1 35% above U.S. |
| Wayne and Brookfield 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% |
13.4%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.4%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
29.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
26%±5.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.4%±5.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wayne and Brookfield 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
48.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
45.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.5%±2.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wayne and Brookfield 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 69% above U.S. |
$93,194±$26k 15% above U.S. |
$106,331±$22k 32% above U.S. |
$81,250±$37kLowest about the U.S. 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 28% above U.S. |
$362,800±$29k 9% above U.S. |
$422,000±$36k 27% above U.S. |
$341,900±$23kLowest about the U.S. average |
| 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 16% below U.S. |
$983±$554Lowest 30% below U.S. |
$1,843±$268Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,014±$161 28% below U.S. |
| 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 109% above U.S. |
$3,289Lowest 5% above U.S. |
$4,973 59% above U.S. |
$5,092 63% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
25%±52.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
60%±27.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.7%±11.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Westminster and Brookfield 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% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 43% above U.S. |
30 min 15% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
32 min 23% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.8%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
26.2%±11.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.5%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
12%±5.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Wayne 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 | — | #112 of 282 in MA | #109 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | RSU 38 | Ashburnham-Westminster | Brookfield |
| High school in town | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | None in town | Oakmont Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.7Lowest |
— | 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.