What stands out worked out from the figures below

Halifax has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.1%).

Sterling has the most people working from home (18.3%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Halifax	Sterling
People
Population	7,748Lowest	8,183Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.1%Highest MA: +7.4%	+2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	41.9±4.7Lowest 5% above MA	51.5±1.8Highest 29% above MA
Kids under 18	22.2%±5.9Highest MA: 19.4%	18.6%±4.1Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Halifax and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.8%±3.6Lowest MA: 17.9%	22.9%±4Highest MA: 17.9%
	Sterling and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	36.1%Lowest MA: 47.3%	48.3%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9%	4.8%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Halifax and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$118,556±$11kLowest 14% above MA	$129,063±$27kHighest 24% above MA
	Sterling and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$481,500±$51kLowest 14% below MA	$498,800±$48kHighest 11% below MA
	Sterling and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,804±$375Highest about the MA average	$1,699±$161Lowest 4% below MA
	Halifax and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,840Highest 14% above MA	$6,757Lowest 13% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45.6%±37.4Lowest MA: 51.8%	46%±23.1Highest MA: 51.8%
	Sterling and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	2.6%Lowest MA: 10%	6%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	95.5%Highest MA: 62.5%	86.3%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1979Lowest 15 yrs newer than MA	1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	35 minHighest 22% above MA	34 minLowest 18% above MA
Work from home	13.9%±5.3Lowest MA: 18.6%	18.3%±6.2Highest MA: 18.6%
	Sterling and Halifax 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	#120 of 282 in MA	#135 of 282 in MA
School district	Halifax	Wachusett
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.