Compare towns
Sterling vs Dedham vs West Boylston
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).
Dedham has the most expensive homes ($662k median).
West Boylston has the shortest commute (25 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 | Dedham | West Boylston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,183 |
25,237Highest |
7,782Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6% MA: +7.4% |
+2.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.5±1.8Highest 29% above MA |
44.6±1.6Lowest 12% above MA |
45.5±2.7 14% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±4.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.3%±3.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 22.9%±4 MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
25.8%±3.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
| West Boylston 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% MA: 47.3% |
55%Highest MA: 47.3% |
41.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Dedham 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 |
$128,955±$10k 24% above MA |
$104,551±$12kLowest about the MA average |
| Sterling and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $498,800±$48k 11% below MA |
$661,800±$16kHighest 18% above MA |
$440,000±$24kLowest 22% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,699±$161 4% below MA |
$2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA |
$1,261±$154Lowest 28% below MA |
| Dedham and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,757 13% above MA |
$7,918Highest 32% above MA |
$6,115Lowest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46%±23.1 MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
29.9%±12.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Dedham and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6% MA: 10% |
5.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
6.6%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
77.9% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 18% above MA |
29 min about the MA average |
25 minLowest 14% below MA |
| Work from home | 18.3%±6.2 MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
17.7%±4.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Dedham 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 | #119 of 282 in MA | #97 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Wachusett | — | West Boylston |
| High school in town | None in town | — | West Boylston Junior/Senior High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.6 |
| 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.