What stands out worked out from the figures below

Sterling has the most people working from home (18.3%).

Danielson has the most affordable homes ($225k 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	Danielson
People
Population	8,183Highest	4,209Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+2.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	51.5±1.8Highest 32% above U.S.	34.5±3.6Lowest 11% below U.S.
Kids under 18	18.6%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22%	18.9%±6.1Highest U.S.: 22%
	Danielson and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.9%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2%	13.6%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	48.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	11.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	9.2%±6.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Danielson 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 60% above U.S.	$64,050±$15kLowest 21% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$498,800±$48kHighest 50% above U.S.	$224,600±$13kLowest 32% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,699±$161Highest 20% above U.S.	$1,235±$194Lowest 13% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,757Highest 117% above U.S.	$4,009Lowest 29% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	46%±23.1Highest U.S.: 51.1%	44.7%±17.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Sterling and Danielson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	21.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	53%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Highest same as U.S.	1951Lowest 29 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minHighest 30% above U.S.	28 minLowest 8% above U.S.
Work from home	18.3%±6.2Highest U.S.: 15.1%	6.6%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#135 of 282 in MA	—
School district	Wachusett	—
High school in town	None in town	—
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.