Compare towns
Westminster vs Hampton Falls 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%).
Hampton Falls has the most expensive homes ($773k median).
Sturbridge has the youngest population (median age 47.2).
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 | Hampton Falls | Sturbridge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,374 |
2,328Lowest |
9,960Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.3±4.6 24% above U.S. |
49.5±7.3Highest 27% above U.S. |
47.2±2.6Lowest 21% above U.S. |
| Hampton Falls 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% |
19.1%±5.6Lowest 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% |
25%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Westminster and Hampton Falls 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
54.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
49.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Sturbridge and Hampton Falls 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 32% above U.S. |
$166,157±$14kHighest 106% above U.S. |
$136,759±$15k 69% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $422,000±$36kLowest 27% above U.S. |
$772,600±$76kHighest 132% above U.S. |
$425,800±$18k 28% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,843±$268 30% above U.S. |
$1,852±$475Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,193±$398Lowest 16% below U.S. |
| Hampton Falls and Westminster 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. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,520 109% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60%±27.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
27.2%±22.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Westminster and Sturbridge 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%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% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1982Highest 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. |
38 minHighest 43% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.5%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.8%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hampton Falls 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 | — | #89 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ashburnham-Westminster | Hampton Falls School District | Sturbridge · Tantasqua |
| High school in town | Oakmont Regional High School | None in town | Tantasqua Regional Sr High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.6Highest |
— | 7.7Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.