Compare towns
Clinton vs Sterling vs Thompson
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).
Sterling has the highest household income ($129k).
Thompson has the most affordable homes ($292k median).
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 | Thompson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,563Highest |
8,183Lowest |
9,337 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 38.6±2.7Lowest about the U.S. average |
51.5±1.8 32% above U.S. |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
| Thompson 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 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±4.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.9%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Thompson 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest 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. |
$129,063±$27kHighest 60% above U.S. |
$93,629±$18k 16% above U.S. |
| Sterling and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $387,300±$19k 16% above U.S. |
$498,800±$48kHighest 50% above U.S. |
$291,900±$24kLowest 12% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,402±$76 about the U.S. average |
$1,699±$161Highest 20% above U.S. |
$1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,654 49% above U.S. |
$6,757Highest 117% above U.S. |
$3,822Lowest 23% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.3%±6.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46%±23.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±18.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Thompson 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% |
6% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 54.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest 13% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.2%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.3%±6.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #135 of 282 in MA | #130 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Clinton | Wachusett | Thompson School District |
| High school in town | Clinton Senior High | None in town | Tourtellotte Memorial High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
— | 7.9Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.