Compare towns
Lancaster vs Sterling vs West Boylston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
Sterling has the oldest population (median age 51.5).
West Boylston has the shortest commute (25 min average).
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 | Lancaster | Sterling | West Boylston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,606Highest |
8,183 |
7,782Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.7% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.9Lowest 8% above MA |
51.5±1.8Highest 29% above MA |
45.5±2.7 14% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 19.2%±4Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±4.1 MA: 19.4% |
16.3%±3.6Lowest 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%±4 MA: 17.9% |
25.8%±3.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
| West Boylston and Sterling 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% MA: 47.3% |
41.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.8%±1.2Lowest 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±$27k 24% above MA |
$104,551±$12kLowest about the MA average |
| 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±$48k 11% below MA |
$440,000±$24kLowest 22% 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±$161 4% below MA |
$1,261±$154Lowest 28% 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 |
$6,757 13% above MA |
$6,115Lowest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.3%±36.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
46%±23.1 MA: 51.8% |
29.9%±12.8Lowest 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% MA: 10% |
6.6%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.1% MA: 62.5% |
86.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
77.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 9% above MA |
34 minHighest 18% above MA |
25 minLowest 14% below MA |
| Work from home | 33.6%±9.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
18.3%±6.2 MA: 18.6% |
17.7%±4.5Lowest 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 | #97 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Nashoba | Wachusett | West Boylston |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | West Boylston Junior/Senior High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.6 |
| 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.