Compare towns

Clinton vs Sterling vs Woonsocket

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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.4%).
Sterling has the most homeowners (86.3%).
Woonsocket has the most renters (62.8% rent).

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.

MeasureClintonSterlingWoonsocket
People
Population
15,563
8,183Lowest
43,521Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+13.4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.3%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
38.6±2.7
about the U.S. average
51.5±1.8Highest
32% above U.S.
35.7±1.3Lowest
8% below U.S.
Kids under 18
17.8%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 22%
18.6%±4.1
U.S.: 22%
23.3%±2Highest
U.S.: 22%
Woonsocket 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%
22.9%±4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
14.7%±1.4
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
36.6%
U.S.: 35.7%
48.3%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
19.8%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.9%±2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.8%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.1%±0.9
U.S.: 6.4%
Clinton and Woonsocket 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
11% above U.S.
$129,063±$27kHighest
60% above U.S.
$61,059±$5kLowest
24% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$387,300±$19k
16% above U.S.
$498,800±$48kHighest
50% above U.S.
$311,000±$15kLowest
7% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,402±$76
about the U.S. average
$1,699±$161Highest
20% above U.S.
$1,161±$48Lowest
18% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,654
49% above U.S.
$6,757Highest
117% above U.S.
$3,960Lowest
27% 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%
46.7%±5.4Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Woonsocket and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
8.6%
U.S.: 12.5%
6%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
18.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
54.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
86.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
37.2%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1956
24 yrs older than U.S.
1980Highest
same as U.S.
1952Lowest
28 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
30 min
13% above U.S.
34 minHighest
30% above U.S.
29 minLowest
11% above U.S.
Work from home
14.2%±4.2
U.S.: 15.1%
18.3%±6.2Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
6.4%±1.7Lowest
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 #37 of 38 in RI
School district Clinton Wachusett RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket
High school in town Clinton Senior High None in town Woonsocket High School
Students per teacherat that high school
12.8Lowest
—
15.2Highest
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.