Compare towns
Clinton vs Epping 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
Clinton has the most renters (45.3% rent).
Epping has the most people working from home (24%).
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 | Clinton | Epping | Sterling |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,563Highest |
7,430Lowest |
8,183 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.6±2.7Lowest about the U.S. average |
45.1±3.5 16% above U.S. |
51.5±1.8Highest 32% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 17.8%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Epping 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.9%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sterling and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
37% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Clinton and Epping 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 11% above U.S. |
$104,220±$7k 29% above U.S. |
$129,063±$27kHighest 60% above U.S. |
| Sterling and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $387,300±$19kLowest 16% above U.S. |
$436,900±$35k 31% above U.S. |
$498,800±$48kHighest 50% above U.S. |
| Sterling and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,402±$76Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,742±$576Highest 23% above U.S. |
$1,699±$161 20% above U.S. |
| Epping and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,654Lowest 49% above U.S. |
$6,936Highest 122% above U.S. |
$6,757 117% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.3%±6.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46%±23.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Epping and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 54.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest 13% above U.S. |
32 min 22% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.2%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.3%±6.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Epping 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 | #77 of 120 in NH | #135 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Clinton | Epping School District | Wachusett |
| High school in town | Clinton Senior High | Epping High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
9.3Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.