Compare towns
Westminster vs Webster 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%).
Webster has the youngest population (median age 39.9).
Gardner has the most affordable homes ($302k median).
Sturbridge has the most people working from home (19.8%).
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 | Webster | Gardner | Sturbridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,374Lowest |
17,748 |
21,148Highest |
9,960 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
+5.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.5% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.3±4.6Highest 21% above MA |
39.9±2.9Lowest 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%±4.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
18.3%±2.3Lowest 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% |
19.6%±2.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.6%±2.2Lowest 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% |
25.3% MA: 47.3% |
23.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
49.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.8%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
| Webster and Gardner 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 |
$72,895±$6k 30% below MA |
$67,518±$8kLowest 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 |
$361,500±$12k 36% below MA |
$301,600±$20kLowest 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 |
$1,228±$81 30% below MA |
$1,109±$51Lowest 37% below MA |
$1,193±$398 32% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,973 17% below MA |
$3,999Lowest 33% below MA |
$4,150 31% below MA |
$6,520Highest 9% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60%±27.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.7%±6.7 MA: 51.8% |
49.7%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
42%±17.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Westminster and Gardner 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% |
12.7% MA: 10% |
13.7%Highest MA: 10% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
59.8% MA: 62.5% |
58.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
1962 2 yrs older than MA |
1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 7% below MA |
31 min 5% above MA |
31 min 5% above MA |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
| Work from home | 12.5%±4.2 MA: 18.6% |
8%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
13.3%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
19.8%±4.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Sturbridge and Gardner 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 | #271 of 282 in MA | #273 of 282 in MA | #89 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ashburnham-Westminster | Webster | Gardner | Sturbridge · Tantasqua |
| High school in town | Oakmont Regional High School | Bartlett High School | Gardner High | Tantasqua Regional Sr High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.6Highest |
11.6 |
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.