Compare towns
Westminster vs Dalton 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.9%).
Dalton has the most affordable homes ($296k median).
Sterling has the most people working from home (18.3%).
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 | Dalton | Sterling |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,374Highest |
6,256Lowest |
8,183 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-6.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.3% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.3±4.6Lowest 21% above MA |
49.7±5.8 24% above MA |
51.5±1.8Highest 29% above MA |
| Sterling and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±4.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.6%±4.7 MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±4.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Westminster and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26%±5.7 MA: 17.9% |
27.9%±5.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
22.9%±4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Dalton and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.9% MA: 47.3% |
44.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
48.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
2.3%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Sterling and Dalton 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 about the MA average |
$79,438±$8kLowest 24% below MA |
$129,063±$27kHighest 24% above MA |
| 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 25% below MA |
$295,700±$26kLowest 47% below MA |
$498,800±$48kHighest 11% below MA |
| 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 5% above MA |
$872±$70Lowest 51% below MA |
$1,699±$161 4% below MA |
| 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 17% below MA |
$4,276Lowest 29% below MA |
$6,757Highest 13% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60%±27.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
41.2%±19Lowest MA: 51.8% |
46%±23.1 MA: 51.8% |
| Westminster and Sterling 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% |
7.4%Highest MA: 10% |
6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
70.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 7% below MA |
22 minLowest 24% below MA |
34 minHighest 18% above MA |
| Work from home | 12.5%±4.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
12.5%±7.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
18.3%±6.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Sterling 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 | #112 of 282 in MA | #192 of 282 in MA | #135 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ashburnham-Westminster | Central Berkshire | Wachusett |
| High school in town | Oakmont Regional High School | Wahconah Regional High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.6Highest |
10.9Lowest |
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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.