Compare towns
Westminster vs Canton vs Sterling
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Westminster has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Canton has the most expensive homes ($711k median).
Sterling has the oldest population (median age 51.5).
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 | Westminster | Canton | Sterling |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,374 |
24,748Highest |
8,183Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.9% MA: +7.4% |
+13%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.3±4.6 21% above MA |
42.6±2.3Lowest 7% above MA |
51.5±1.8Highest 29% above MA |
| Sterling and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±4.4 MA: 19.4% |
22.9%±2.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±4.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Canton and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26%±5.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.9%±4 MA: 17.9% |
| Westminster and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
67.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
48.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1 MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Sterling and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $106,331±$22kLowest about the MA average |
$143,381±$9kHighest 38% above MA |
$129,063±$27k 24% above MA |
| Canton and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $422,000±$36kLowest 25% below MA |
$710,600±$27kHighest 26% above MA |
$498,800±$48k 11% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,843±$268 5% above MA |
$2,315±$178Highest 31% above MA |
$1,699±$161Lowest 4% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,973Lowest 17% below MA |
$6,560 9% above MA |
$6,757Highest 13% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60%±27.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.4%±9.1 MA: 51.8% |
46%±23.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Westminster and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.2% MA: 10% |
6%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 7% below MA |
36 minHighest 23% above MA |
34 min 18% above MA |
| Work from home | 12.5%±4.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
25.7%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
18.3%±6.2 MA: 18.6% |
| Canton and Sterling 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 | #112 of 282 in MA | #81 of 282 in MA | #135 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ashburnham-Westminster | Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton | Wachusett |
| High school in town | Oakmont Regional High School | Canton High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.6Highest |
13.1Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.