Compare towns
Clinton vs Windham vs Sterling vs Lancaster
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%).
Windham has the shortest commute (26 min average).
Sterling has the oldest population (median age 51.5).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
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 | Windham | Sterling | Lancaster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,563 |
19,188Highest |
8,183Lowest |
8,606 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.6±2.7Lowest about the U.S. average |
41.8±1.8 7% above U.S. |
51.5±1.8Highest 32% above U.S. |
43.1±4.9 11% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 17.8%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 14.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.9%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.9%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sterling and Lancaster 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
44.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
50.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8Lowest 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. |
$107,934±$14k 34% above U.S. |
$129,063±$27k 60% above U.S. |
$134,833±$27kHighest 67% above U.S. |
| Lancaster and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $387,300±$19kLowest 16% above U.S. |
$388,900±$22k 17% above U.S. |
$498,800±$48k 50% above U.S. |
$519,100±$60kHighest 56% above U.S. |
| Lancaster and Sterling 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 |
$1,232±$332Lowest 13% below U.S. |
$1,699±$161 20% above U.S. |
$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
| Lancaster and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,654 49% above U.S. |
$3,938Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$6,757 117% above U.S. |
$7,235Highest 132% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.3%±6.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
32.7%±14.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46%±23.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lancaster 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% |
3.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
6% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 54.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than 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. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.2%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.3%±6.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #246 of 282 in MA | #95 of 133 in ME | #135 of 282 in MA | #145 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Clinton | RSU 14 | Wachusett | Nashoba |
| High school in town | Clinton Senior High | Windham High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
12.1Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.