What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hampton has the most affordable homes ($296k median).

Sterling has the most expensive homes ($499k 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.

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

Measure	Hampton	Sterling
People
Population	1,647Lowest	8,183Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	+2.3% U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	51.5±5.3 32% above U.S.	51.5±1.8 32% above U.S.
Kids under 18	19.7%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22%	18.6%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Hampton and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	26.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%	22.9%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Hampton and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	29.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	48.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.9%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	4.8%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Sterling and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$109,167±$19kLowest 35% above U.S.	$129,063±$27kHighest 60% above U.S.
	Sterling and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$295,800±$27kLowest 11% below U.S.	$498,800±$48kHighest 50% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,285±$288Lowest 9% below U.S.	$1,699±$161Highest 20% above U.S.
	Sterling and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,364Lowest 40% above U.S.	$6,757Highest 117% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	52.5%±51.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%	46%±23.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Hampton and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	6%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	90%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	86.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980 same as U.S.	1980 same as U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minLowest 10% above U.S.	34 minHighest 30% above U.S.
Work from home	17.7%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	18.3%±6.2Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Sterling and Hampton 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	—	#135 of 282 in MA
School district	Hampton School District	Wachusett
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.