What stands out worked out from the figures below

Sterling has the most affordable homes ($283k median).

Northbridge has the most expensive homes ($449k median).

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	Sterling	Northbridge
People
Population	3,629Lowest	16,458Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	+4% U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	39.4±5.9Lowest about the U.S. average	43.8±2.6Highest 13% above U.S.
	Northbridge 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%	21.1%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Sterling and Northbridge 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%	16.4%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Northbridge and Sterling 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%	36.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.7%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	4.3%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Northbridge 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±$12kLowest 27% above U.S.	$111,319±$19kHighest 38% above U.S.
	Northbridge and Sterling 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.	$448,600±$15kHighest 35% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$1,207±$102 15% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,551Lowest 46% above U.S.	$4,821Highest 55% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	32%±18.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	51.2%±9.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Northbridge and Sterling 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%	7.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	81.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	70.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S.	1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	35 minHighest 34% above U.S.	31 minLowest 17% above U.S.
Work from home	11.6%±6.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	16.2%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Northbridge 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	#119 of 149 in CT	#226 of 282 in MA
School district	Sterling School District	Northbridge
High school in town	None in town	Northbridge High
Students per teacherat that high school	—	10.8
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.