Compare towns
Westminster vs Lancaster vs Windsor Locks 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 the most kids (21.3% under 18).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
Windsor Locks has the most affordable homes ($259k 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 | Lancaster | Windsor Locks | Sturbridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,374Lowest |
8,606 |
12,579Highest |
9,960 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +6.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.3±4.6Highest 24% above U.S. |
43.1±4.9 11% above U.S. |
41.4±2.6Lowest 6% above U.S. |
47.2±2.6 21% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.4Lowest 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% |
19.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Westminster and Lancaster 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% |
50.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
49.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Windsor Locks 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 32% above U.S. |
$134,833±$27k 67% above U.S. |
$81,205±$13kLowest about the U.S. average |
$136,759±$15kHighest 69% above U.S. |
| Sturbridge and Lancaster 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. |
$519,100±$60kHighest 56% above U.S. |
$258,800±$14kLowest 22% below U.S. |
$425,800±$18k 28% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,843±$268 30% above U.S. |
$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
$1,394±$187 about the U.S. average |
$1,193±$398Lowest 16% below U.S. |
| Lancaster and Westminster 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. |
$7,235Highest 132% above U.S. |
$3,688Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$6,520 109% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60%±27.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
58.2%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
42%±17.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lancaster and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
38 minHighest 43% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.5%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lancaster 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 | #145 of 282 in MA | #109 of 149 in CT | #89 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ashburnham-Westminster | Nashoba | Windsor Locks School District | Sturbridge · Tantasqua |
| High school in town | Oakmont Regional High School | None in town | Windsor Locks High School | Tantasqua Regional Sr High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.6Highest |
— | 8.9 |
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.