Compare towns
Sterling vs Danvers vs Ashford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sterling has the most kids (22.8% under 18).
Danvers has the most expensive homes ($644k median).
Ashford has the youngest population (median age 37.9).
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 | Sterling | Danvers | Ashford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,629Lowest |
28,098Highest |
4,226 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +6% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 39.4±5.9 about the U.S. average |
45.3±3Highest 16% above U.S. |
37.9±10.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Danvers and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.8%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.5%±5.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Sterling and Ashford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 13%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±2.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.9%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Danvers and Ashford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 18%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ashford and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $102,695±$12kLowest 27% above U.S. |
$125,395±$10kHighest 55% above U.S. |
$121,926±$23k 51% above U.S. |
| Danvers and Ashford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $283,400±$17kLowest 15% below U.S. |
$644,200±$23kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$334,800±$18k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $2,076±$192Highest 47% above U.S. |
$1,246±$208Lowest 12% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,551Lowest 46% above U.S. |
$6,654 113% above U.S. |
$6,982Highest 124% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32%±18.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.8%±8.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
47%±26 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Danvers and Ashford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
76.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 8% above U.S. |
34 min 30% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.6%±6.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.3%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.3%±5.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #119 of 149 in CT | #91 of 282 in MA | #90 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Sterling School District | — | Ashford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.