Compare towns
Sterling vs Berlin vs Merrimac
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sterling has the most kids (18.6% under 18).
Berlin has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.2%).
Merrimac has the shortest commute (32 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 | Sterling | Berlin | Merrimac |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,183Highest |
3,378Lowest |
6,748 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+10.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.5±1.8Highest 29% above MA |
49.7±2.8 24% above MA |
49.4±6.8Lowest 24% above MA |
| Sterling and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±4.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.4%±4.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
16.5%±6.2 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+ | 22.9%±4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
30.1%±5.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
26.7%±5.8 MA: 17.9% |
| Berlin and Merrimac are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
48.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
41%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Sterling and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $129,063±$27kHighest 24% above MA |
$121,336±$12kLowest 17% above MA |
$123,054±$16k 18% 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 | $498,800±$48kLowest 11% below MA |
$616,600±$55kHighest 10% above MA |
$553,400±$38k about the MA average |
| Berlin and Merrimac are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,699±$161 4% below MA |
$2,420±$933Highest 37% above MA |
$1,352±$325Lowest 23% below MA |
| Berlin and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,757Lowest 13% above MA |
$7,116 19% above MA |
$7,399Highest 23% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46%±23.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.6%±19.7 MA: 51.8% |
59.3%±29.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Merrimac and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6% MA: 10% |
5%Lowest MA: 10% |
9.4%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
77.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
81.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Lowest 16 yrs newer than MA |
1992Highest 28 yrs newer than MA |
1982 18 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 18% above MA |
34 min 17% above MA |
32 minLowest 10% above MA |
| Work from home | 18.3%±6.2 MA: 18.6% |
29.1%±6.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
8.5%±3.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Berlin 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 | #135 of 282 in MA | #61 of 282 in MA | #188 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Wachusett | Berlin-Boylston | Pentucket |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.