Compare towns
Westminster vs Meredith 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%).
Meredith has the most people working from home (23.7%).
Sterling has the highest household income ($129k).
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 | Meredith | Sterling |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,374Highest |
6,758Lowest |
8,183 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.3±4.6Lowest 24% above U.S. |
55.5±3.7Highest 43% above U.S. |
51.5±1.8 32% above U.S. |
| Meredith and Sterling 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% |
12.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Westminster and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26%±5.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
34.2%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.9%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Meredith and Westminster 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% |
45.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Sterling and Meredith 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. |
$87,019±$19kLowest 8% above U.S. |
$129,063±$27kHighest 60% above U.S. |
| Sterling 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 27% above U.S. |
$480,100±$48k 44% above U.S. |
$498,800±$48kHighest 50% above U.S. |
| Sterling and Meredith 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. |
$1,149±$304Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,699±$161 20% above U.S. |
| Westminster and Sterling 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. |
$5,006 61% above U.S. |
$6,757Highest 117% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60%±27.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.5%±9.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
46%±23.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Westminster and Meredith 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% |
7.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.5%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.3%±6.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Meredith 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 | #62 of 120 in NH | #135 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ashburnham-Westminster | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Wachusett |
| High school in town | Oakmont Regional High School | Inter-Lakes High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.6Highest |
11.1Lowest |
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| 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.