Compare towns
Sterling vs Needham vs Voluntown
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 affordable homes ($283k median).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Voluntown has the oldest population (median age 48.3).
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.
| Measure | Sterling | Needham | Voluntown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,629 |
32,459Highest |
2,604Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +11.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 39.4±5.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
48.3±1.7Highest 24% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 22.8%±5.9 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Needham and Sterling 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% |
17.7%±1.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Needham and Voluntown 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% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
26.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Needham and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $102,695±$12k 27% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$101,964±$25kLowest 26% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $283,400±$17kLowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$356,100±$16k 7% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$1,166±$191Lowest 17% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,551Lowest 46% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,955 59% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32%±18.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.9%±24.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Needham and Voluntown 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% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
31 min 19% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.6%±6.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.9%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #119 of 149 in CT | #19 of 282 in MA | #53 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Sterling School District | — | Voluntown 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.