What stands out worked out from the figures below

Holden has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.8%).

Sterling has the oldest population (median age 51.5).

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	Holden	Sterling
People
Population	20,064Highest	8,183Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+14.8%Highest MA: +7.4%	+2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	41.5±1.8Lowest 4% above MA	51.5±1.8Highest 29% above MA
Kids under 18	24.9%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4%	18.6%±4.1Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Holden and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.7%±1.8Lowest MA: 17.9%	22.9%±4Highest MA: 17.9%
	Sterling and Holden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	58.2%Highest MA: 47.3%	48.3%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.4%±1Highest MA: 7.9%	4.8%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Holden and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$141,923±$11kHighest 37% above MA	$129,063±$27kLowest 24% above MA
	Holden and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$470,700±$13kLowest 16% below MA	$498,800±$48kHighest 11% below MA
	Sterling and Holden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,648±$214Lowest 6% below MA	$1,699±$161Highest 4% below MA
	Sterling and Holden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,359Lowest 6% above MA	$6,757Highest 13% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	42.4%±7.2Lowest MA: 51.8%	46%±23.1Highest MA: 51.8%
	Sterling and Holden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.4%Lowest MA: 10%	6%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.3%Lowest MA: 62.5%	86.3%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1971Lowest 7 yrs newer than MA	1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest 6% below MA	34 minHighest 18% above MA
Work from home	18.2%±3.1Lowest MA: 18.6%	18.3%±6.2Highest MA: 18.6%
	Sterling and Holden 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	#57 of 282 in MA	#135 of 282 in MA
School district	Wachusett	Wachusett
High school in town	Wachusett Regional High	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	13.0	—
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.