Compare towns
Clinton vs Lancaster vs Ogunquit 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).
Lancaster has the highest household income ($135k).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
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 | Lancaster | Ogunquit | Sterling |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,563Highest |
8,606 |
1,379Lowest |
8,183 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.6±2.7Lowest about the U.S. average |
43.1±4.9 11% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
51.5±1.8 32% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 17.8%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Lancaster 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% |
19.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.9%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Clinton and Sterling 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. |
$134,833±$27kHighest 67% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56k 42% above U.S. |
$129,063±$27k 60% above U.S. |
| Lancaster 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±$19kLowest 16% above U.S. |
$519,100±$60k 56% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$498,800±$48k 50% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,402±$76Lowest about the U.S. average |
$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
— | $1,699±$161 20% above U.S. |
| Lancaster and Sterling 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. |
$7,235Highest 132% above U.S. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$6,757 117% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.3%±6.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46%±23.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lancaster 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% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 54.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 13% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.2%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±9.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.3%±6.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ogunquit and Lancaster 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 | #145 of 282 in MA | — | #135 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Clinton | Nashoba | — | Wachusett |
| High school in town | Clinton Senior High | None in town | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8 |
— | — | — |
| 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.