Compare towns
Westminster vs Plainfield 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).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Sturbridge has the most people working from home (19.8%).
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 | Plainfield | Sturbridge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,374Lowest |
15,141Highest |
9,960 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +6.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.3±4.6Highest 24% above U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below 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% |
19.4%±2.6Lowest 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% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Westminster and Sturbridge 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% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
49.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainfield 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. |
$76,993±$8kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$136,759±$15kHighest 69% above U.S. |
| 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±$36k 27% above U.S. |
$272,100±$16kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$425,800±$18kHighest 28% above U.S. |
| Sturbridge and Westminster 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. |
$1,204±$70 15% below U.S. |
$1,193±$398Lowest 16% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,973 59% above U.S. |
$4,209Lowest 35% above U.S. |
$6,520Highest 109% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60%±27.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest 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% |
8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 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 |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
38 minHighest 43% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.5%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sturbridge and Westminster 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 | #131 of 149 in CT | #89 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ashburnham-Westminster | Plainfield School District | Sturbridge · Tantasqua |
| High school in town | Oakmont Regional High School | Plainfield High School | Tantasqua Regional Sr High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.6Highest |
10.3 |
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.