Compare towns
Westminster vs Sterling vs Ashburnham
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%).
Sterling has the most expensive homes ($499k median).
Ashburnham has the youngest population (median age 40.7).
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 | Sterling | Ashburnham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,374Highest |
8,183 |
6,415Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.8% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.3±4.6 21% above MA |
51.5±1.8Highest 29% above MA |
40.7±6.3Lowest about the MA average |
| 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%±4.4 MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±4.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.6%±6Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Ashburnham and Westminster 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% |
22.9%±4 MA: 17.9% |
18.1%±4.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| 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% MA: 47.3% |
48.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
44%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Ashburnham 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±$22kLowest about the MA average |
$129,063±$27kHighest 24% above MA |
$118,809±$11k 14% above MA |
| Sterling and Ashburnham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $422,000±$36k 25% below MA |
$498,800±$48kHighest 11% below MA |
$390,700±$34kLowest 30% below MA |
| 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 5% above MA |
$1,699±$161Lowest 4% below MA |
$1,807±$1k about the MA average |
| Westminster and Ashburnham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,973Lowest 17% below MA |
$6,757Highest 13% above MA |
$6,046 about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60%±27.3 MA: 51.8% |
46%±23.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Ashburnham and Westminster 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% |
6% MA: 10% |
6.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.6% MA: 62.5% |
86.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
96%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1980 16 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 7% below MA |
34 minHighest 18% above MA |
32 min 10% above MA |
| Work from home | 12.5%±4.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
18.3%±6.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
16%±7.7 MA: 18.6% |
| Sterling and Ashburnham 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 | #178 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ashburnham-Westminster | Wachusett | Ashburnham-Westminster |
| 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 Our Story | 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.