Compare towns
Westminster vs Windsor Locks vs Brooklyn vs Sterling
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).
Windsor Locks has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Sterling has the highest household income ($129k).
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 | Brooklyn | Sterling |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,374 |
12,579Highest |
8,517 |
8,183Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — | +2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.3±4.6 24% above U.S. |
41.4±2.6Lowest 6% above U.S. |
45.6±2.5 17% above U.S. |
51.5±1.8Highest 32% above U.S. |
| Sterling 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% |
18.6%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.6%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Westminster and Brooklyn 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% |
17.6%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.9%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Westminster and Sterling 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
23.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.3%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% |
5.4%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Windsor Locks and Brooklyn 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 |
$96,207±$15k 19% above U.S. |
$129,063±$27kHighest 60% above U.S. |
| Sterling 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 27% above U.S. |
$258,800±$14kLowest 22% below U.S. |
$315,200±$28k 5% below U.S. |
$498,800±$48kHighest 50% above U.S. |
| Sterling 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 |
$1,125±$98Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,699±$161 20% above U.S. |
| 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 59% above U.S. |
$3,688Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$4,538 45% above U.S. |
$6,757Highest 117% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60%±27.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
58.2%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
38.5%±19.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46%±23.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Westminster and Windsor Locks 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% |
2.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.7% 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. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.5%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.7%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.3%±6.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sterling 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 | #113 of 149 in CT | #135 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ashburnham-Westminster | Windsor Locks School District | Brooklyn School District | Wachusett |
| High school in town | Oakmont Regional High School | Windsor Locks High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.6Highest |
8.9Lowest |
— | — |
| 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.