Compare towns
Westminster vs Scotland 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 the shortest commute (27 min average).
Scotland has the most affordable homes ($294k median).
Sterling has the most people working from home (18.3%).
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 | Scotland | Sterling |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,374Highest |
1,599Lowest |
8,183 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.3±4.6 24% above U.S. |
44.7±5Lowest 15% above U.S. |
51.5±1.8Highest 32% above U.S. |
| Sterling 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% |
16.4%±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%±5.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.6%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.9%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Westminster and Sterling 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% |
33.8%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% |
5.8%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Scotland and Sterling 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. |
$99,881±$12kLowest 24% 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±$36k 27% above U.S. |
$294,100±$20kLowest 12% below U.S. |
$498,800±$48kHighest 50% above U.S. |
| Sterling 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. |
$1,188±$468Lowest 16% 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. |
$6,175 98% above U.S. |
$6,757Highest 117% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60%±27.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±75.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46%±23.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Westminster and Sterling 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% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.5%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±6.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.3%±6.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sterling 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 | — | #135 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ashburnham-Westminster | Scotland School District | Wachusett |
| High school in town | Oakmont Regional High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.6 |
— | — |
| 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.