Compare towns
Westminster vs Sturbridge vs Princeton
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%).
Sturbridge has the most renters (13.7% rent).
Princeton has the most people working from home (29.5%).
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 | Sturbridge | Princeton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,374 |
9,960Highest |
3,529Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.5% MA: +7.4% |
+2.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.3±4.6Highest 21% above MA |
47.2±2.6 18% above MA |
46.1±7Lowest 15% above MA |
| 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%±4.4 MA: 19.4% |
20.7%±3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.2%±4.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Princeton 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% |
19.8%±3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.9%±3.6 MA: 17.9% |
| Westminster and Princeton 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 MA: 47.3% |
49.3% MA: 47.3% |
59.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
1.9%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Sturbridge and Princeton 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 |
$136,759±$15k 32% above MA |
$158,750±$46kHighest 53% above MA |
| Princeton and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $422,000±$36kLowest 25% below MA |
$425,800±$18k 24% below MA |
$520,500±$48kHighest 7% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,843±$268Highest 5% above MA |
$1,193±$398 32% below MA |
$897±$852Lowest 49% below MA |
| Westminster and Sturbridge 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 |
$6,520 9% above MA |
$6,633Highest 11% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60%±27.3 MA: 51.8% |
42%±17.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
69.8%±46.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Princeton 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% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
4.2%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.6% MA: 62.5% |
86.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
94.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
1975Lowest 11 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 7% below MA |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
37 min 25% above MA |
| Work from home | 12.5%±4.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
19.8%±4.8 MA: 18.6% |
29.5%±6.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Princeton 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 | #89 of 282 in MA | #59 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ashburnham-Westminster | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Wachusett |
| High school in town | Oakmont Regional High School | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.6Highest |
7.7Lowest |
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| 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.