Compare towns
Clinton vs Windham vs Webster 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).
Windham has the highest household income ($190k).
Webster has the most affordable homes ($362k median).
Sterling has the oldest population (median age 51.5).
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 | Webster | Sterling |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,563 |
16,038 |
17,748Highest |
8,183Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.6±2.7Lowest about the U.S. average |
41.1±2.9 6% above U.S. |
39.9±2.9 about the U.S. average |
51.5±1.8Highest 32% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 17.8%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 14.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.9%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sterling and Webster 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% |
62.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
25.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Clinton and Webster 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. |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
$72,895±$6kLowest 10% below U.S. |
$129,063±$27k 60% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $387,300±$19k 16% above U.S. |
$723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$361,500±$12kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$498,800±$48k 50% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,402±$76 about the U.S. average |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$1,228±$81Lowest 13% below U.S. |
$1,699±$161 20% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,654 49% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$3,999Lowest 28% above U.S. |
$6,757 117% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.3%±6.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.7%±6.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
46%±23.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windham 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% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 54.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest 13% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.2%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.3%±6.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Windham and Sterling 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 | #13 of 120 in NH | #271 of 282 in MA | #135 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Clinton | Windham School District | Webster | Wachusett |
| High school in town | Clinton Senior High | Windham High School | Bartlett High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
12.8Highest |
11.6Lowest |
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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.