Compare towns
Westminster vs Wareham vs Sturbridge 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%).
Wareham has the most renters (16.5% rent).
Sturbridge has the most people working from home (19.8%).
Sterling has the most expensive homes ($499k median).
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 | Wareham | Sturbridge | Sterling |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,374 |
23,302Highest |
9,960 |
8,183Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.8% MA: +7.4% |
+6.5% MA: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.3±4.6 21% above MA |
52.1±3.1Highest 30% above MA |
47.2±2.6Lowest 18% above MA |
51.5±1.8 29% above MA |
| Wareham and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±4.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.1%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.7%±3 MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±4.1 MA: 19.4% |
| Westminster and Sturbridge 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% |
26.2%±3.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.8%±3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.9%±4 MA: 17.9% |
| Wareham 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% MA: 47.3% |
27.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
49.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
48.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
| Wareham 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 |
$90,383±$11kLowest 13% below MA |
$136,759±$15kHighest 32% above MA |
$129,063±$27k 24% above MA |
| Sturbridge 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 |
$424,500±$21k 24% below MA |
$425,800±$18k 24% below MA |
$498,800±$48kHighest 11% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,843±$268Highest 5% above MA |
$1,504±$180 15% below MA |
$1,193±$398Lowest 32% 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 |
$4,341Lowest 28% below MA |
$6,520 9% above MA |
$6,757Highest 13% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60%±27.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
51.4%±23.3 MA: 51.8% |
42%±17.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
46%±23.1 MA: 51.8% |
| Westminster and Wareham 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% |
6.7%Highest MA: 10% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.3% MA: 62.5% |
86.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA |
1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
1980 16 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 7% below MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
34 min 18% above MA |
| Work from home | 12.5%±4.2 MA: 18.6% |
12.4%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
19.8%±4.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
18.3%±6.2 MA: 18.6% |
| Sturbridge 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 | #272 of 282 in MA | #89 of 282 in MA | #135 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ashburnham-Westminster | Wareham | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Wachusett |
| High school in town | Oakmont Regional High School | Wareham Senior High | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.6Highest |
8.6 |
7.7Lowest |
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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.