Compare towns
Westminster vs Upton vs Bourne vs Sterling
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%).
Upton has the most people working from home (22.8%).
Bourne has the most renters (24.2% rent).
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 | Upton | Bourne | Sterling |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,374 |
8,189 |
20,323Highest |
8,183Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
+3.5% MA: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.3±4.6 21% above MA |
46.4±4.8Lowest 16% above MA |
52±1.8Highest 30% above MA |
51.5±1.8 29% above MA |
| Bourne and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±4.4 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
14.7%±2.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±4.1 MA: 19.4% |
| Upton and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26%±5.7 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
29.8%±3.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
22.9%±4 MA: 17.9% |
| Bourne 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 MA: 47.3% |
53.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
46% MA: 47.3% |
48.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
6.6%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
| Bourne 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 about the MA average |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$91,058±$7kLowest 12% below MA |
$129,063±$27k 24% above MA |
| Upton and Sterling 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 |
$576,700±$41kHighest about the MA average |
$575,600±$28k about the MA average |
$498,800±$48k 11% below MA |
| Upton and Bourne 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 |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,379±$300 22% below MA |
$1,699±$161 4% below MA |
| Westminster and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,973 17% below MA |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$4,485Lowest 25% below MA |
$6,757 13% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60%±27.3 MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
62.8%±5.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
46%±23.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Bourne 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% |
3.2% MA: 10% |
6.2%Highest MA: 10% |
6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
86.7% MA: 62.5% |
75.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1975Lowest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1980 16 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 7% below MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
26 minLowest 11% below MA |
34 min 18% above MA |
| Work from home | 12.5%±4.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
14.9%±3.1 MA: 18.6% |
18.3%±6.2 MA: 18.6% |
| Upton 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 | #46 of 282 in MA | #206 of 282 in MA | #135 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ashburnham-Westminster | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Bourne · Upper Cape Cod Regional Vocational Technical | Wachusett |
| High school in town | Oakmont Regional High School | Blackstone Valley | Upper Cape Cod Vocational Technical | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.6Highest |
11.2 |
9.8Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.