Compare towns
Clinton vs Winchester 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 youngest population (median age 38.6).
Winchester has the most affordable homes ($250k median).
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 | Winchester | Sterling |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,563Highest |
10,284 |
8,183Lowest |
| 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 |
49.1±6.2 26% above U.S. |
51.5±1.8Highest 32% above U.S. |
| Sterling and Winchester 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% |
15.4%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±4.1Highest 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% |
27.4%±5.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.9%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Winchester 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% |
27.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.7Lowest 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. |
$66,519±$12kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$129,063±$27kHighest 60% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $387,300±$19k 16% above U.S. |
$249,500±$17kLowest 25% below U.S. |
$498,800±$48kHighest 50% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,402±$76 about the U.S. average |
$1,174±$116Lowest 17% below U.S. |
$1,699±$161Highest 20% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,654Lowest 49% above U.S. |
$4,780 53% above U.S. |
$6,757Highest 117% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.3%±6.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.9%±15.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46%±23.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Winchester 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% |
12.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 54.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
65.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 13% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.2%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.9%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.3%±6.2Highest 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 | #97 of 149 in CT | #135 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Clinton | Explorations District · Regional School District 07 | Wachusett |
| High school in town | Clinton Senior High | Northwestern Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
9.7Lowest |
— |
| 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.