Compare towns
Westminster vs Hatfield vs Sturbridge
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%).
Hatfield has the shortest commute (20 min average).
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 | Hatfield | Sturbridge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,374 |
3,325Lowest |
9,960Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.5% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.3±4.6Highest 21% above MA |
46.8±5Lowest 17% above MA |
47.2±2.6 18% above MA |
| Westminster and Sturbridge 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% |
14%±4.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.7%±3 MA: 19.4% |
| 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 MA: 17.9% |
23.3%±4.6 MA: 17.9% |
19.8%±3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Westminster and Hatfield 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 MA: 47.3% |
48.5% MA: 47.3% |
49.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
| Hatfield and Sturbridge 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 |
$89,005±$25kLowest 14% below MA |
$136,759±$15kHighest 32% above MA |
| Sturbridge 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±$36kLowest 25% below MA |
$440,800±$26kHighest 22% below MA |
$425,800±$18k 24% below MA |
| Hatfield and Sturbridge 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 |
$1,267±$216 28% below MA |
$1,193±$398Lowest 32% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,973 17% below MA |
$4,930Lowest 18% below MA |
$6,520Highest 9% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60%±27.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
42.6%±11.8 MA: 51.8% |
42%±17.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Westminster and Hatfield 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% |
8.9%Highest MA: 10% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
74.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA |
1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 7% below MA |
20 minLowest 30% below MA |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
| Work from home | 12.5%±4.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16%±6.3 MA: 18.6% |
19.8%±4.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Sturbridge and Hatfield 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 | #198 of 282 in MA | #89 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ashburnham-Westminster | Hatfield | Sturbridge · Tantasqua |
| High school in town | Oakmont Regional High School | Smith Academy | Tantasqua Regional Sr High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.6Highest |
6.1Lowest |
7.7 |
| 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.