Compare towns
Clinton vs Lee 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%).
Lee has the shortest commute (18 min average).
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 | Lee | Sterling |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,563Highest |
5,719Lowest |
8,183 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.3% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.6±2.7Lowest 4% below MA |
55.2±5.8Highest 38% above MA |
51.5±1.8 29% above MA |
| Lee 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% |
12.6%±5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±4.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Sterling and Clinton 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% |
33.4%±6.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
22.9%±4 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
44.1% MA: 47.3% |
48.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±2Highest MA: 7.9% |
5%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Clinton and Lee 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 |
$83,750±$13kLowest 19% below MA |
$129,063±$27kHighest 24% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $387,300±$19k 31% below MA |
$352,700±$19kLowest 37% below MA |
$498,800±$48kHighest 11% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,402±$76 20% below MA |
$1,375±$212Lowest 22% below MA |
$1,699±$161Highest 4% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,654 22% below MA |
$3,980Lowest 34% below MA |
$6,757Highest 13% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.3%±6.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.3%±21.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
46%±23.1 MA: 51.8% |
| Lee 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 MA: 10% |
7.2% MA: 10% |
6%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 54.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
71.1% MA: 62.5% |
86.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1959 5 yrs older than MA |
1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min about the MA average |
18 minLowest 38% below MA |
34 minHighest 18% above MA |
| Work from home | 14.2%±4.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16.4%±7.8 MA: 18.6% |
18.3%±6.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Sterling and Lee 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 | #209 of 282 in MA | #135 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Clinton | Lee | Wachusett |
| High school in town | Clinton Senior High | Lee Middle/High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
9.2Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 20 photos → | 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.