Compare towns
Westminster vs Chaplin vs Gardner vs Sterling
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Westminster has the most kids (21.3% under 18).
Chaplin has the most affordable homes ($255k median).
Gardner has the most renters (41.1% rent).
Sterling has the highest household income ($129k).
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 | Chaplin | Gardner | Sterling |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,374 |
2,070Lowest |
21,148Highest |
8,183 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +5.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.3±4.6 24% above U.S. |
43.7±4.8Lowest 12% above U.S. |
43.7±2.3Lowest 12% above U.S. |
51.5±1.8Highest 32% above U.S. |
| 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%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Westminster and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26%±5.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.9%±4.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.9%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
25.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
23.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
10.1%±6.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chaplin and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $106,331±$22k 32% above U.S. |
$97,846±$14k 21% above U.S. |
$67,518±$8kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$129,063±$27kHighest 60% above U.S. |
| Sterling and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $422,000±$36k 27% above U.S. |
$255,200±$24kLowest 23% below U.S. |
$301,600±$20k 9% below U.S. |
$498,800±$48kHighest 50% above U.S. |
| Sterling and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,843±$268Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,473±$275 4% above U.S. |
$1,109±$51Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,699±$161 20% above U.S. |
| Westminster and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,973 59% above U.S. |
$4,524 45% above U.S. |
$4,150Lowest 33% above U.S. |
$6,757Highest 117% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60%±27.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
33.6%±27.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.7%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
46%±23.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Westminster and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
13.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
58.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
32 min 23% above U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.5%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±10 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.3%±6.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sterling and Chaplin 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 | — | #273 of 282 in MA | #135 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ashburnham-Westminster | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | Gardner | Wachusett |
| High school in town | Oakmont Regional High School | Parish Hill High School | Gardner High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.6Highest |
7.5Lowest |
13.5 |
— |
| 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.