Compare towns
Douglas vs Sterling vs Thompson
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).
Sterling has the most expensive homes ($499k median).
Thompson has the most affordable homes ($292k 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 | Sterling | Thompson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,207 |
8,183Lowest |
9,337Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 44±2.6Lowest 13% above U.S. |
51.5±1.8 32% above U.S. |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
| Thompson and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Douglas and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.9%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Thompson and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Douglas and Sterling 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. |
$129,063±$27k 60% above U.S. |
$93,629±$18kLowest 16% above U.S. |
| Douglas and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $470,600±$29k 41% above U.S. |
$498,800±$48kHighest 50% above U.S. |
$291,900±$24kLowest 12% below U.S. |
| Sterling and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,503±$697 6% above U.S. |
$1,699±$161Highest 20% above U.S. |
$1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| Sterling 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. |
$6,757Highest 117% above U.S. |
$3,822Lowest 23% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.9%±17.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46%±23.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±18.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Thompson and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 28% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
32 minLowest 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.9%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.3%±6.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Douglas 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 | #177 of 282 in MA | #135 of 282 in MA | #130 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Douglas | Wachusett | Thompson School District |
| High school in town | Douglas High School | None in town | Tourtellotte Memorial High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.2Lowest |
— | 7.9Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.