Compare towns
Clinton vs Barre vs Sterling
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Clinton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.4%).
Sterling has the most people working from home (18.3%).
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 | Clinton | Barre | Sterling |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,563Highest |
5,572Lowest |
8,183 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.4% MA: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.6±2.7Lowest 4% below MA |
43.8±8.5 9% above MA |
51.5±1.8Highest 29% above MA |
| Sterling and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.8%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
15.8%±5.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±4.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Sterling and Clinton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19%±5.6 MA: 17.9% |
22.9%±4Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Sterling and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.6% MA: 47.3% |
31.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
48.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±2Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±3.2 MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Clinton and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $89,781±$10kLowest 14% below MA |
$107,727±$13k 4% above MA |
$129,063±$27kHighest 24% above MA |
| Sterling and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $387,300±$19kLowest 31% below MA |
$394,300±$55k 30% below MA |
$498,800±$48kHighest 11% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,402±$76 20% below MA |
$1,030±$713Lowest 42% below MA |
$1,699±$161Highest 4% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,654Lowest 22% below MA |
$5,163 14% below MA |
$6,757Highest 13% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.3%±6.4 MA: 51.8% |
38.2%±27.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
46%±23.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Sterling and Clinton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.6%Highest MA: 10% |
8.2% MA: 10% |
6%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 54.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
75.8% MA: 62.5% |
86.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest about the MA average |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
34 min 18% above MA |
| Work from home | 14.2%±4.2 MA: 18.6% |
11.2%±4.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
18.3%±6.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Sterling and Clinton 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 | #246 of 282 in MA | #134 of 282 in MA | #135 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Clinton | Quabbin | Wachusett |
| High school in town | Clinton Senior High | Quabbin Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Lowest |
12.9Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.