Compare towns
Sterling vs Douglas 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 oldest population (median age 51.5).
Douglas has the highest household income ($152k).
Merrimac has the most expensive homes ($553k 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.
| Measure | Sterling | Douglas | Merrimac |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,183 |
9,207Highest |
6,748Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.5±1.8Highest 29% above MA |
44±2.6Lowest 10% above MA |
49.4±6.8 24% above MA |
| Sterling and Merrimac are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±4.1 MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.5%±6.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Douglas and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.9%±4 MA: 17.9% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
26.7%±5.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Merrimac 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% |
41.7% MA: 47.3% |
41%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Douglas 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±$27k 24% above MA |
$152,267±$10kHighest 46% above MA |
$123,054±$16kLowest 18% above MA |
| Douglas 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±$48k 11% below MA |
$470,600±$29kLowest 16% below MA |
$553,400±$38kHighest about the MA average |
| Merrimac and Sterling 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 |
$1,503±$697 15% below MA |
$1,352±$325Lowest 23% below MA |
| Sterling and Douglas 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 |
$6,338Lowest 6% above MA |
$7,399Highest 23% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46%±23.1 MA: 51.8% |
33.9%±17.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
59.3%±29.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Merrimac 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% |
4.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
9.4%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.8% MA: 62.5% |
81.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Lowest 16 yrs newer than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1982 18 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 18% above MA |
34 min 16% above MA |
32 minLowest 10% above MA |
| Work from home | 18.3%±6.2 MA: 18.6% |
20.9%±4.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
8.5%±3.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Douglas 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 | #177 of 282 in MA | #188 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Wachusett | Douglas | Pentucket |
| High school in town | None in town | Douglas High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.2 |
— |
| 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.