Compare towns
Westminster vs Dummerston vs Ashburnham 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.9%).
Dummerston has the most people working from home (25.9%).
Ashburnham has the youngest population (median age 40.7).
Sterling has the most expensive homes ($499k 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 | Westminster | Dummerston | Ashburnham | Sterling |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,374Highest |
2,090Lowest |
6,415 |
8,183 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.3±4.6 24% above U.S. |
45.6±11.7 17% above U.S. |
40.7±6.3Lowest 5% 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%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
21.7%±6 U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Ashburnham and Dummerston 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% |
24.3%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.9%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Westminster and Dummerston 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% |
58.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ashburnham 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. |
$101,696±$21kLowest 26% above U.S. |
$118,809±$11k 47% above U.S. |
$129,063±$27kHighest 60% above U.S. |
| Sterling and Ashburnham 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. |
$335,300±$22kLowest about the U.S. average |
$390,700±$34k 17% above 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. |
$1,392±$126Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,807±$1k 28% above U.S. |
$1,699±$161 20% above U.S. |
| Westminster and Ashburnham 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. |
$4,536Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$6,046 94% above U.S. |
$6,757Highest 117% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60%±27.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±32.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46%±23.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ashburnham and Westminster 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% |
4.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
96%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
32 min 21% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.5%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.9%±10.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16%±7.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.3%±6.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dummerston 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 | — | #178 of 282 in MA | #135 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ashburnham-Westminster | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Ashburnham-Westminster | Wachusett |
| High school in town | Oakmont Regional High School | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.6 |
— | — | — |
| 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.