Compare towns
Clinton vs Sterling vs Easthampton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Clinton has the youngest population (median age 38.6).
Sterling has the most homeowners (86.3%).
Easthampton has the shortest commute (22 min average).
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 | Sterling | Easthampton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,563 |
8,183Lowest |
16,086Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 38.6±2.7Lowest 4% below MA |
51.5±1.8Highest 29% above MA |
46±2.6 15% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 17.8%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±4.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.5%±2.4Lowest 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% |
22.9%±4 MA: 17.9% |
23.9%±3Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Easthampton and Sterling 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% |
48.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
38% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±2Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.1%±1.9 MA: 7.9% |
| Clinton and Easthampton 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 |
$129,063±$27kHighest 24% above MA |
$71,673±$7kLowest 31% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $387,300±$19k 31% below MA |
$498,800±$48kHighest 11% below MA |
$371,500±$15kLowest 34% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,402±$76 20% below MA |
$1,699±$161Highest 4% below MA |
$1,292±$70Lowest 27% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,654Lowest 22% below MA |
$6,757Highest 13% above MA |
$4,932 18% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.3%±6.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
46%±23.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.5%±10.7 MA: 51.8% |
| Sterling and Easthampton 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% |
6%Lowest MA: 10% |
8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 54.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
58.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min about the MA average |
34 minHighest 18% above MA |
22 minLowest 23% below MA |
| Work from home | 14.2%±4.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
18.3%±6.2 MA: 18.6% |
19%±3.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Easthampton 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 | #135 of 282 in MA | #92 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Clinton | Wachusett | Easthampton |
| High school in town | Clinton Senior High | None in town | Easthampton High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
— | 9.8Lowest |
| 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.