Compare towns
Clinton vs Gorham vs Webster 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.4%).
Gorham has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Webster has the most affordable homes ($362k median).
Sterling has the oldest population (median age 51.5).
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 | Gorham | Webster | Sterling |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,563 |
18,300Highest |
17,748 |
8,183Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.6±2.7Lowest about the U.S. average |
39.4±2.9 about the U.S. average |
39.9±2.9 about the U.S. average |
51.5±1.8Highest 32% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 17.8%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Gorham and Webster 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% |
17.5%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.9%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sterling and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
25.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
13.1%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $89,781±$10k 11% above U.S. |
$112,312±$6k 39% above U.S. |
$72,895±$6kLowest 10% below U.S. |
$129,063±$27kHighest 60% above U.S. |
| Sterling and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $387,300±$19k 16% above U.S. |
$460,900±$26k 39% above U.S. |
$361,500±$12kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$498,800±$48kHighest 50% above U.S. |
| Sterling and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,402±$76 about the U.S. average |
$1,680±$355 19% above U.S. |
$1,228±$81Lowest 13% below U.S. |
$1,699±$161Highest 20% above U.S. |
| Sterling and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,654 49% above U.S. |
$4,825 55% above U.S. |
$3,999Lowest 28% above U.S. |
$6,757Highest 117% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.3%±6.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.9%±8.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.7%±6.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
46%±23.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 54.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 13% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.2%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.3%±6.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Gorham 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 | #24 of 133 in ME | #271 of 282 in MA | #135 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Clinton | Gorham Public Schools | Webster | Wachusett |
| High school in town | Clinton Senior High | Gorham High School | Bartlett High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8 |
12.9Highest |
11.6Lowest |
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| 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.