Compare towns
Westminster vs Warwick vs Ware 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%).
Warwick has the most people working from home (22.4%).
Ware has the most affordable homes ($290k 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 | Warwick | Ware | Sturbridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,374 |
776Lowest |
10,048Highest |
9,960 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
0%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2% MA: +7.4% |
+6.5% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.3±4.6 21% above MA |
51.4±7.3Highest 29% above MA |
43.1±4.7Lowest 8% above MA |
47.2±2.6 18% above MA |
| Warwick and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±4.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
9.9%±3.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
20.7%±3 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%±5.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
23.2%±3.3 MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
19.8%±3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Westminster and Warwick 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% |
40.5% MA: 47.3% |
24%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
49.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Sturbridge and Ware 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 |
$93,333±$22k 10% below MA |
$67,475±$15kLowest 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 |
$349,400±$34k 38% below MA |
$289,700±$28kLowest 48% 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 |
$1,367±$163 22% below MA |
$1,043±$109Lowest 41% below MA |
$1,193±$398 32% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,973 17% below MA |
$4,380 27% below MA |
$4,237Lowest 29% below MA |
$6,520Highest 9% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60%±27.3 MA: 51.8% |
33.3%±57.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
42%±17.7 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% |
5% MA: 10% |
11.8%Highest MA: 10% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.6% MA: 62.5% |
89%Highest MA: 62.5% |
72.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 7% below MA |
40 minHighest 37% above MA |
28 min about the MA average |
38 min 30% above MA |
| Work from home | 12.5%±4.2 MA: 18.6% |
22.4%±6.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
19.8%±4.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Warwick and Sturbridge 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 | #89 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ashburnham-Westminster | Warwick | Ware | Sturbridge · Tantasqua |
| High school in town | Oakmont Regional High School | None in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School | Tantasqua Regional Sr High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.6Highest |
— | 11.1 |
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.