What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lancaster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).

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	Lancaster	Sterling
People
Population	8,606Highest	8,183Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.8%Highest MA: +7.4%	+2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	43.1±4.9Lowest 8% above MA	51.5±1.8Highest 29% above MA
Kids under 18	19.2%±4Highest MA: 19.4%	18.6%±4.1Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Lancaster and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.9%±4.2Lowest MA: 17.9%	22.9%±4Highest MA: 17.9%
	Sterling and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	50.3%Highest MA: 47.3%	48.3%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9%	4.8%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9%
	Sterling and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$134,833±$27kHighest 30% above MA	$129,063±$27kLowest 24% above MA
	Lancaster and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$519,100±$60kHighest 8% below MA	$498,800±$48kLowest 11% below MA
	Lancaster and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,338±$539Highest 33% above MA	$1,699±$161Lowest 4% below MA
	Lancaster and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,235Highest 21% above MA	$6,757Lowest 13% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	68.3%±36.7Highest MA: 51.8%	46%±23.1Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Lancaster and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	1.4%Lowest MA: 10%	6%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.1%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	32 minLowest 9% above MA	34 minHighest 18% above MA
Work from home	33.6%±9.1Highest MA: 18.6%	18.3%±6.2Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Lancaster 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	#145 of 282 in MA	#135 of 282 in MA
School district	Nashoba	Wachusett
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.