What stands out worked out from the figures below

Merrimac has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).

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	Merrimac	Sterling
People
Population	6,748Lowest	8,183Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.1%Highest MA: +7.4%	+2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	49.4±6.8Lowest 24% above MA	51.5±1.8Highest 29% above MA
	Sterling and Merrimac are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	16.5%±6.2Lowest MA: 19.4%	18.6%±4.1Highest MA: 19.4%
	Sterling and Merrimac are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	26.7%±5.8Highest MA: 17.9%	22.9%±4Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Merrimac and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	41%Lowest MA: 47.3%	48.3%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.1%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9%	4.8%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9%
	Sterling and Merrimac are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$123,054±$16kLowest 18% above MA	$129,063±$27kHighest 24% above MA
	Sterling and Merrimac are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$553,400±$38kHighest about the MA average	$498,800±$48kLowest 11% below MA
	Merrimac and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,352±$325Lowest 23% below MA	$1,699±$161Highest 4% below MA
	Sterling and Merrimac are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,399Highest 23% above MA	$6,757Lowest 13% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	59.3%±29.1Highest MA: 51.8%	46%±23.1Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Merrimac and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.4%Highest MA: 10%	6%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	81.3%Lowest MA: 62.5%	86.3%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA	1980Lowest 16 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minLowest 10% above MA	34 minHighest 18% above MA
Work from home	8.5%±3.4Lowest MA: 18.6%	18.3%±6.2Highest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#188 of 282 in MA	#135 of 282 in MA
School district	Pentucket	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.