Compare towns
Clinton vs Wells vs Sterling
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).
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+18%).
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 | Wells | Sterling |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,563Highest |
11,713 |
8,183Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+18%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.6±2.7Lowest about the U.S. average |
53.6±3.8Highest 38% above U.S. |
51.5±1.8 32% above U.S. |
| Wells and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.8%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±4.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Sterling and Wells 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% |
31%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.9%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±1.8 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±$10k 11% above U.S. |
$88,024±$11kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$129,063±$27kHighest 60% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $387,300±$19kLowest 16% above U.S. |
$485,300±$23k 46% above U.S. |
$498,800±$48kHighest 50% above U.S. |
| Sterling and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,402±$76 about the U.S. average |
$1,350±$297Lowest 4% below U.S. |
$1,699±$161Highest 20% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,654 49% above U.S. |
$3,215Lowest 3% above U.S. |
$6,757Highest 117% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.3%±6.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.1%±19.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
46%±23.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Sterling and Wells 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% |
6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 54.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 13% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.2%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.3%±6.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sterling and Wells 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 | #22 of 133 in ME | #135 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Clinton | Wells-Ogunquit CSD | Wachusett |
| High school in town | Clinton Senior High | Wells High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
11.4Lowest |
— |
| 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.