Compare towns
Westminster vs Upton vs Plainville 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 most homeowners (87.6%).
Upton has the most people working from home (22.8%).
Plainville has the most affordable homes ($254k median).
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 | Plainville | Sterling |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,374 |
8,189 |
17,551Highest |
8,183Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.3±4.6 24% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8 19% above U.S. |
44.3±1.5Lowest 14% 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%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.1%±2.8Lowest 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% |
53.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainville 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. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$84,343±$7kLowest 4% above U.S. |
$129,063±$27k 60% above U.S. |
| 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±$36k 27% above U.S. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
$254,000±$14kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$498,800±$48k 50% above U.S. |
| 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 30% above U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,126±$147 20% 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 | $4,973 59% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$4,798Lowest 54% above U.S. |
$6,757 117% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60%±27.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46%±23.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
34 min 30% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.5%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.7%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.3%±6.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #89 of 149 in CT | #135 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ashburnham-Westminster | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District | Wachusett |
| High school in town | Oakmont Regional High School | Blackstone Valley | Plainville High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.6Highest |
11.2Lowest |
11.4 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.