What stands out worked out from the figures below

Sturbridge has the most people working from home (19.8%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Sturbridge	Westminster
People
Population	9,960Highest	8,374Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.5%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+12.9%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	47.2±2.6Lowest 18% above 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%±3Lowest 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%	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%Highest MA: 47.3%	45.9%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.6%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9%	1.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$136,759±$15kHighest 32% above MA	$106,331±$22kLowest 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	$422,000±$36kLowest 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±$398Lowest 32% 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	$4,973Lowest 17% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	42%±17.7Lowest MA: 51.8%	60%±27.3Highest MA: 51.8%
	Westminster and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.7%Highest MA: 10%	2.3%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	86.3%Lowest MA: 62.5%	87.6%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA	1977Lowest 13 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	38 minHighest 30% above MA	27 minLowest 7% below MA
Work from home	19.8%±4.8Highest MA: 18.6%	12.5%±4.2Lowest 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	#112 of 282 in MA
School district	Sturbridge · Tantasqua	Ashburnham-Westminster
High school in town	Tantasqua Regional Sr High	Oakmont Regional High School
Students per teacherat that high school	7.7Lowest	13.6Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.