What stands out worked out from the figures below

Sterling has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.3%).

Brookfield has the most affordable homes ($342k 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	Brookfield
People
Population	8,183Highest	3,460Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.3%Highest MA: +7.4%	+1.4%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	51.5±1.8Lowest 29% above MA	52.4±2.1Highest 31% above MA
	Brookfield and Sterling 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%±4.7Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Sterling and Brookfield 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%	28.4%±5.7Highest MA: 17.9%
	Brookfield and Sterling 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%	28.9%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.8%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9%	6.2%±3.2Highest MA: 7.9%
	Brookfield and Sterling 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	$81,250±$37kLowest 22% below MA
	Sterling and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$498,800±$48kHighest 11% below MA	$341,900±$23kLowest 39% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,699±$161Highest 4% below MA	$1,014±$161Lowest 42% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,757Highest 13% above MA	$5,092Lowest 15% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	46%±23.1Lowest MA: 51.8%	50.7%±11.7Highest MA: 51.8%
	Brookfield and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6%Lowest MA: 10%	8.9%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	86.3%Lowest MA: 62.5%	87.5%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Lowest 16 yrs newer than MA	1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minHighest 18% above MA	32 minLowest 11% above MA
Work from home	18.3%±6.2Highest MA: 18.6%	12%±5.5Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Sterling and Brookfield 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	#109 of 282 in MA
School district	Wachusett	Brookfield
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.