Compare towns
Westminster vs Windsor Locks vs Ashburnham 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 oldest population (median age 48.3).
Windsor Locks has the most affordable homes ($259k median).
Ashburnham has the most homeowners (96%).
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 | Windsor Locks | Ashburnham | Sturbridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,374 |
12,579Highest |
6,415Lowest |
9,960 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.3±4.6Highest 24% above U.S. |
41.4±2.6 6% above U.S. |
40.7±6.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
47.2±2.6 21% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±3 U.S.: 22% |
| Ashburnham and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26%±5.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44% U.S.: 35.7% |
49.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Windsor Locks and Ashburnham 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. |
$81,205±$13kLowest about the U.S. average |
$118,809±$11k 47% above U.S. |
$136,759±$15kHighest 69% above U.S. |
| Sturbridge and Ashburnham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $422,000±$36k 27% above U.S. |
$258,800±$14kLowest 22% below U.S. |
$390,700±$34k 17% above U.S. |
$425,800±$18kHighest 28% above U.S. |
| 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 30% above U.S. |
$1,394±$187 about the U.S. average |
$1,807±$1k 28% above U.S. |
$1,193±$398Lowest 16% below U.S. |
| Westminster and Ashburnham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,973 59% above U.S. |
$3,688Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$6,046 94% above U.S. |
$6,520Highest 109% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60%±27.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
58.2%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42%±17.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ashburnham 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
32 min 21% above U.S. |
38 minHighest 43% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.5%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
16%±7.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sturbridge and Windsor Locks 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 | #109 of 149 in CT | #178 of 282 in MA | #89 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ashburnham-Westminster | Windsor Locks School District | Ashburnham-Westminster | Sturbridge · Tantasqua |
| High school in town | Oakmont Regional High School | Windsor Locks High School | None in town | Tantasqua Regional Sr High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.6Highest |
8.9 |
— | 7.7Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.