Compare towns
Westminster vs Upton vs Douglas 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 expensive homes ($577k median).
Douglas has the youngest population (median age 44).
Sterling has the oldest population (median age 51.5).
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 | Upton | Douglas | Sterling |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,374 |
8,189 |
9,207Highest |
8,183Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.3±4.6 21% above MA |
46.4±4.8 16% above MA |
44±2.6Lowest 10% above MA |
51.5±1.8Highest 29% above MA |
| 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% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±3.8 MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±4.1Lowest 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%±5.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9 MA: 17.9% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.9%±4 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% |
53.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
41.7%Lowest 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% |
5.4%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
| Douglas 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 |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$152,267±$10k 46% above MA |
$129,063±$27k 24% above MA |
| Upton and Douglas 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 |
$470,600±$29k 16% below MA |
$498,800±$48k 11% below MA |
| Upton and Sterling 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 |
$1,503±$697 15% 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 | $4,973Lowest 17% below MA |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$6,338 6% above MA |
$6,757 13% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60%±27.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
33.9%±17.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
46%±23.1 MA: 51.8% |
| Westminster and Upton 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% |
4.8% MA: 10% |
6%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
86.7% MA: 62.5% |
83.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1980 16 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 7% below MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
34 min 16% above MA |
34 min 18% above MA |
| Work from home | 12.5%±4.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
20.9%±4.9 MA: 18.6% |
18.3%±6.2 MA: 18.6% |
| Upton and Douglas 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 | #177 of 282 in MA | #135 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ashburnham-Westminster | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Douglas | Wachusett |
| High school in town | Oakmont Regional High School | Blackstone Valley | Douglas High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.6Highest |
11.2 |
7.2Lowest |
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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.