Compare towns
Westminster vs Ware vs Gardner vs Sturbridge
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%).
Ware has the most affordable homes ($253k median).
Sturbridge has the highest household income ($137k).
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 | Ware | Gardner | Sturbridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,374 |
6,369Lowest |
21,148Highest |
9,960 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+5.2% MA: +7.4% |
+6.5% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.3±4.6Highest 21% above MA |
39.8±6Lowest about the MA average |
43.7±2.3 9% above MA |
47.2±2.6 18% 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% |
23.3%±4.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.3%±2.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.7%±3 MA: 19.4% |
| Ware 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% |
17.4%±3.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.6%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
19.8%±3 MA: 17.9% |
| Westminster and Sturbridge 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% |
15.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
23.8% MA: 47.3% |
49.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.9 MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $106,331±$22k about the MA average |
$45,158±$11kLowest 57% below MA |
$67,518±$8k 35% below MA |
$136,759±$15kHighest 32% above MA |
| Sturbridge and Westminster 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 |
$253,400±$31kLowest 55% below MA |
$301,600±$20k 46% below MA |
$425,800±$18kHighest 24% below MA |
| Sturbridge 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 |
$1,039±$104Lowest 41% below MA |
$1,109±$51 37% below MA |
$1,193±$398 32% 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 | $4,973 17% below MA |
$3,408Lowest 43% below MA |
$4,150 31% below MA |
$6,520Highest 9% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60%±27.3 MA: 51.8% |
64.5%±17.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
49.7%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
42%±17.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Ware 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% |
14.1%Highest MA: 10% |
13.7% MA: 10% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
57.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
58.9% MA: 62.5% |
86.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1954 10 yrs older than MA |
1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 7% below MA |
27 minLowest 9% below MA |
31 min 5% above MA |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
| Work from home | 12.5%±4.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16.6%±5 MA: 18.6% |
13.3%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
19.8%±4.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Sturbridge and Ware 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 | #267 of 282 in MA | #273 of 282 in MA | #89 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ashburnham-Westminster | — | Gardner | Sturbridge · Tantasqua |
| High school in town | Oakmont Regional High School | — | Gardner High | Tantasqua Regional Sr High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.6Highest |
— | 13.5 |
7.7Lowest |
| 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.