Compare towns
Westminster vs Epping vs Sterling vs Sturbridge
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%).
Epping has the most people working from home (24%).
Sterling has the most expensive homes ($499k median).
Sturbridge has the highest household income ($137k).
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 | Epping | Sterling | Sturbridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,374 |
7,430Lowest |
8,183 |
9,960Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.3±4.6 24% above U.S. |
45.1±3.5Lowest 16% above U.S. |
51.5±1.8Highest 32% above U.S. |
47.2±2.6 21% 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% |
18.7%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±3 U.S.: 22% |
| Westminster and Sturbridge 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% |
22.6%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.9%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±3Lowest 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% |
37%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
49.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Epping 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. |
$104,220±$7kLowest 29% above U.S. |
$129,063±$27k 60% above U.S. |
$136,759±$15kHighest 69% above U.S. |
| Sturbridge 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 27% above U.S. |
$436,900±$35k 31% above U.S. |
$498,800±$48kHighest 50% above U.S. |
$425,800±$18k 28% above U.S. |
| Sterling and Epping 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. |
$1,742±$576 23% above U.S. |
$1,699±$161 20% above U.S. |
$1,193±$398Lowest 16% below U.S. |
| Westminster and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,973Lowest 59% above U.S. |
$6,936Highest 122% above U.S. |
$6,757 117% above U.S. |
$6,520 109% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60%±27.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46%±23.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
42%±17.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Epping 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% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
32 min 22% above U.S. |
34 min 30% above U.S. |
38 minHighest 43% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.5%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.3%±6.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Epping and Sturbridge 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 | #77 of 120 in NH | #135 of 282 in MA | #89 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ashburnham-Westminster | Epping School District | Wachusett | Sturbridge · Tantasqua |
| High school in town | Oakmont Regional High School | Epping High School | None in town | Tantasqua Regional Sr High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.6Highest |
9.3 |
— | 7.7Lowest |
| 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.