Compare towns
Clinton vs Hardwick 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%).
Hardwick has the most affordable homes ($347k median).
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 | Hardwick | Sterling |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,563Highest |
2,684Lowest |
8,183 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.3% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.6±2.7Lowest 4% below MA |
45.3±9.8 13% above MA |
51.5±1.8Highest 29% above MA |
| Sterling and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.8%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.5%±5.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±4.1 MA: 19.4% |
| Hardwick 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% |
22.7%±5 MA: 17.9% |
22.9%±4Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Sterling and Hardwick 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% |
30.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
48.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±2Highest MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±4.4 MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Clinton and Hardwick 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 |
$75,000±$22kLowest 28% below MA |
$129,063±$27kHighest 24% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $387,300±$19k 31% below MA |
$346,700±$67kLowest 38% below MA |
$498,800±$48kHighest 11% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,402±$76 20% below MA |
$1,108±$119Lowest 37% below MA |
$1,699±$161Highest 4% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,654 22% below MA |
$4,400Lowest 27% below MA |
$6,757Highest 13% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.3%±6.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
59%±13.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
46%±23.1 MA: 51.8% |
| Hardwick and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.6% MA: 10% |
11%Highest MA: 10% |
6%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 54.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
68.2% MA: 62.5% |
86.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest about the MA average |
31 min 7% above MA |
34 minHighest 18% above MA |
| Work from home | 14.2%±4.2 MA: 18.6% |
8.7%±4.3Lowest 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 | #163 of 282 in MA | #135 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Clinton | Quabbin | Wachusett |
| High school in town | Clinton Senior High | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8 |
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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.