Compare towns
Clinton vs Rowley 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%).
Rowley has the most expensive homes ($667k median).
Sterling has the most people working from home (18.3%).
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 | Rowley | Sterling |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,563Highest |
6,251Lowest |
8,183 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.2% MA: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.6±2.7Lowest 4% below MA |
50±6.3 25% above MA |
51.5±1.8Highest 29% above MA |
| Sterling and Rowley 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% |
19.3%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±4.1 MA: 19.4% |
| Rowley 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% |
21.6%±4.1 MA: 17.9% |
22.9%±4Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Sterling and Rowley 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 MA: 47.3% |
56.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
48.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±2Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±2.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Clinton and Rowley 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 14% below MA |
$132,734±$32kHighest 28% above MA |
$129,063±$27k 24% above MA |
| Rowley 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 31% below MA |
$667,300±$52kHighest 19% above MA |
$498,800±$48k 11% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,402±$76Lowest 20% below MA |
$1,603±$520 9% below MA |
$1,699±$161Highest 4% below MA |
| Sterling and Rowley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,654Lowest 22% below MA |
$8,309Highest 39% above MA |
$6,757 13% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.3%±6.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±27.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
46%±23.1 MA: 51.8% |
| Rowley 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% |
3.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 54.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
81.7% MA: 62.5% |
86.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min about the MA average |
28 minLowest 3% below MA |
34 minHighest 18% above MA |
| Work from home | 14.2%±4.2 MA: 18.6% |
11.1%±4Lowest 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 | #214 of 282 in MA | #135 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Clinton | Triton | 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 Our Story | 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.