What stands out worked out from the figures below

Ashby has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.9%).

Sterling has the most expensive homes ($499k median).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Ashby	Sterling
People
Population	3,211Lowest	8,183Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.9%Highest MA: +7.4%	+2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	50.5±3Lowest 26% above MA	51.5±1.8Highest 29% above MA
	Sterling and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	17%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4%	18.6%±4.1Highest MA: 19.4%
	Sterling and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21.5%±4.3Lowest MA: 17.9%	22.9%±4Highest MA: 17.9%
	Sterling and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	43.7%Lowest MA: 47.3%	48.3%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9%	4.8%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9%
	Sterling and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$115,598±$9kLowest 11% above MA	$129,063±$27kHighest 24% above MA
	Sterling and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$390,500±$30kLowest 31% below MA	$498,800±$48kHighest 11% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,200±$484Lowest 32% below MA	$1,699±$161Highest 4% below MA
	Sterling and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,034Lowest about the MA average	$6,757Highest 13% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	36.4%±53.5Lowest MA: 51.8%	46%±23.1Highest MA: 51.8%
	Sterling and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	2.6%Lowest MA: 10%	6%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	95.5%Highest MA: 62.5%	86.3%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1970Lowest 6 yrs newer than MA	1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minLowest 13% above MA	34 minHighest 18% above MA
Work from home	17.8%±5.8Lowest MA: 18.6%	18.3%±6.2Highest MA: 18.6%
	Sterling and Ashby 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	#200 of 282 in MA	#135 of 282 in MA
School district	North Middlesex	Wachusett
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.