Compare towns
Douglas vs Sterling vs Uxbridge
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Douglas has the highest household income ($152k).
Sterling has the oldest population (median age 51.5).
Uxbridge has the most affordable homes ($441k 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 | Uxbridge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,207 |
8,183Lowest |
14,473Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+5.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44±2.6 10% above MA |
51.5±1.8Highest 29% above MA |
41.7±2.8Lowest 4% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 21.2%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±4.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.5%±3.4 MA: 19.4% |
| Douglas and Uxbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.4%±3.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.9%±4Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.1%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
| Sterling and Uxbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.7% MA: 47.3% |
48.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
38%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| 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 46% above MA |
$129,063±$27k 24% above MA |
$124,725±$7kLowest 20% above MA |
| 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 16% below MA |
$498,800±$48kHighest 11% below MA |
$441,100±$25kLowest 22% below MA |
| 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±$697Lowest 15% below MA |
$1,699±$161Highest 4% below MA |
$1,555±$265 12% below MA |
| Sterling and Uxbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,338 6% above MA |
$6,757Highest 13% above MA |
$5,836Lowest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.9%±17.4 MA: 51.8% |
46%±23.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
25.6%±5.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Sterling and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.8% MA: 10% |
6%Highest MA: 10% |
3.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.8% MA: 62.5% |
86.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
79.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1980 16 yrs newer than MA |
1976Lowest 12 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minLowest 16% above MA |
34 min 18% above MA |
37 minHighest 26% above MA |
| Work from home | 20.9%±4.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
18.3%±6.2 MA: 18.6% |
15.9%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| 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 | #183 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Douglas | Wachusett | Uxbridge |
| High school in town | Douglas High School | None in town | Uxbridge High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.2Lowest |
— | 11.6Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA 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.