Compare towns
Sterling vs Clinton vs Holden
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 oldest population (median age 51.5).
Clinton has the most renters (45.3% rent).
Holden has the most kids (24.9% under 18).
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 | Clinton | Holden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,183Lowest |
15,563 |
20,064Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+13.4% MA: +7.4% |
+14.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.5±1.8Highest 29% above MA |
38.6±2.7Lowest 4% below MA |
41.5±1.8 4% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±4.1 MA: 19.4% |
17.8%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
24.9%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Holden and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.9%±4Highest MA: 17.9% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.7%±1.8 MA: 17.9% |
| Sterling and Holden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.3% MA: 47.3% |
36.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
58.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.9%±2Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1 MA: 7.9% |
| Clinton and Holden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $129,063±$27k 24% above MA |
$89,781±$10kLowest 14% below MA |
$141,923±$11kHighest 37% above MA |
| Holden and Sterling 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 |
$387,300±$19kLowest 31% below MA |
$470,700±$13k 16% below MA |
| Sterling and Holden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,699±$161Highest 4% below MA |
$1,402±$76Lowest 20% below MA |
$1,648±$214 6% below MA |
| Sterling and Holden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,757Highest 13% above MA |
$4,654Lowest 22% below MA |
$6,359 6% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46%±23.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
40.3%±6.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
42.4%±7.2 MA: 51.8% |
| Sterling and Holden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6% MA: 10% |
8.6%Highest MA: 10% |
4.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
54.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 18% above MA |
30 min about the MA average |
27 minLowest 6% below MA |
| Work from home | 18.3%±6.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
14.2%±4.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
18.2%±3.1 MA: 18.6% |
| Sterling and Holden 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 | #246 of 282 in MA | #57 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Wachusett | Clinton | Wachusett |
| High school in town | None in town | Clinton Senior High | Wachusett Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8Lowest |
13.0Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.