Compare towns
Westminster vs Washington vs Sturbridge
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 kids (21.3% under 18).
Washington has the most expensive homes ($660k 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 | Washington | Sturbridge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,374 |
3,676Lowest |
9,960Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +6.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.3±4.6 24% above U.S. |
49.9±5.5Highest 28% above U.S. |
47.2±2.6Lowest 21% above U.S. |
| Washington 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 U.S.: 22% |
19%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±3 U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Washington 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
49.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Washington and Sturbridge 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. |
$101,549±$16kLowest 26% above U.S. |
$136,759±$15kHighest 69% above U.S. |
| 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±$36kLowest 27% above U.S. |
$660,200±$130kHighest 98% above U.S. |
$425,800±$18k 28% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,843±$268Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,204±$264 15% below U.S. |
$1,193±$398Lowest 16% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,973 59% above U.S. |
$4,709Lowest 51% above U.S. |
$6,520Highest 109% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60%±27.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
26.1%±24Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Westminster and Sturbridge 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% |
9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
26 minLowest 3% below U.S. |
38 minHighest 43% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.5%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.1%±9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Washington 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 | #17 of 149 in CT | #89 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ashburnham-Westminster | Regional School District 12 | Sturbridge · Tantasqua |
| High school in town | Oakmont Regional High School | Shepaug Valley School | Tantasqua Regional Sr High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.6Highest |
9.1 |
7.7Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 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.