Compare towns
Douglas vs Foster 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
Douglas has the highest household income ($152k).
Foster has the most homeowners (91.4%).
Sterling has the most affordable homes ($283k median).
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 | Douglas | Foster | Sterling |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,207Highest |
4,523 |
3,629Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 44±2.6 13% above U.S. |
47.1±3Highest 21% above U.S. |
39.4±5.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Foster and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.2%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.8%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Sterling and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.4%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Foster and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
18%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Douglas and Foster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $152,267±$10kHighest 89% above U.S. |
$113,646±$18k 41% above U.S. |
$102,695±$12kLowest 27% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $470,600±$29kHighest 41% above U.S. |
$425,300±$30k 28% above U.S. |
$283,400±$17kLowest 15% below U.S. |
| Douglas and Foster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,503±$697Lowest 6% above U.S. |
$1,509±$556Highest 7% above U.S. |
— |
| Foster and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,338 103% above U.S. |
$7,135Highest 129% above U.S. |
$4,551Lowest 46% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
65.8%±25.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
32%±18.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Foster and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 28% above U.S. |
33 minLowest 26% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.9%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.6%±6.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Douglas and Foster 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 | #177 of 282 in MA | #22 of 38 in RI | #119 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Douglas | Foster | Sterling School District |
| High school in town | Douglas High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.2 |
— | — |
| 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.