Compare towns
Clinton vs Chilmark vs Webster 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 the most renters (45.3% rent).
Chilmark has the most expensive homes ($1895k median).
Webster has the most affordable homes ($362k 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.
| Measure | Clinton | Chilmark | Webster | Sterling |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,563 |
1,578Lowest |
17,748Highest |
8,183 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13.4% MA: +7.4% |
+40%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.6±2.7Lowest 4% below MA |
53.6±8.1Highest 34% above MA |
39.9±2.9 about the MA average |
51.5±1.8 29% above MA |
| Chilmark and Sterling 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% |
16.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±2.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±4.1 MA: 19.4% |
| Webster and Sterling 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% |
36.2%±12.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.6%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
22.9%±4 MA: 17.9% |
| Chilmark and Sterling 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% |
68.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
25.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
48.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±2Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.7%±2.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.8%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
| Clinton and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $89,781±$10k 14% below MA |
$168,750±$28kHighest 62% above MA |
$72,895±$6kLowest 30% below MA |
$129,063±$27k 24% above MA |
| Chilmark and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $387,300±$19k 31% below MA |
$1,895,300±$281kHighest 237% above MA |
$361,500±$12kLowest 36% below MA |
$498,800±$48k 11% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,402±$76 20% below MA |
$2,750±$2kHighest 56% above MA |
$1,228±$81Lowest 30% below MA |
$1,699±$161 4% below MA |
| Chilmark and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,654 22% below MA |
$4,485 25% below MA |
$3,999Lowest 33% below MA |
$6,757Highest 13% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.3%±6.4 MA: 51.8% |
30.8%±59.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
45.7%±6.7 MA: 51.8% |
46%±23.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Sterling and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.6% MA: 10% |
4.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
12.7%Highest MA: 10% |
6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 54.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
59.8% MA: 62.5% |
86.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
1962 2 yrs older than MA |
1980 16 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest about the MA average |
32 min 8% above MA |
31 min 5% above MA |
34 minHighest 18% above MA |
| Work from home | 14.2%±4.2 MA: 18.6% |
25.7%±11Highest MA: 18.6% |
8%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
18.3%±6.2 MA: 18.6% |
| Chilmark and Sterling 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 | — | #271 of 282 in MA | #135 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Clinton | Up-Island Regional | Webster | Wachusett |
| High school in town | Clinton Senior High | None in town | Bartlett High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
— | 11.6Lowest |
— |
| 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.