What stands out worked out from the figures below

Sterling has the most affordable homes ($499k median).

Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.3%).

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	Dover
People
Population	8,183Highest	2,308Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+8.3%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	51.5±1.8Highest 29% above MA	47.5±4Lowest 19% above MA
	Sterling and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.6%±4.1Lowest MA: 19.4%	20.9%±4.8Highest MA: 19.4%
	Dover 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%	15.5%±3.5Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Sterling and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	48.3%Lowest MA: 47.3%	83.4%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.8%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9%	9.4%±4.8Highest MA: 7.9%
	Dover 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±$27kLowest 24% above MA	$250,001Highest 140% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$498,800±$48kLowest 11% below MA	$1,308,300±$149kHighest 133% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,699±$161 4% below MA	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,757Lowest 13% above MA	$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	46%±23.1Lowest MA: 51.8%	100%±100Highest MA: 51.8%
	Dover and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6%Highest MA: 10%	3.3%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	86.3%Lowest MA: 62.5%	97.9%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA	1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minLowest 18% above MA	37 minHighest 26% above MA
Work from home	18.3%±6.2Lowest MA: 18.6%	37.4%±8.8Highest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#135 of 282 in MA	#1 of 282 in MA
School district	Wachusett	—
High school in town	None in town	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.