Compare towns
Sterling vs Dover vs Sturbridge
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).
Dover has the most expensive homes ($1308k median).
Sturbridge has the most affordable homes ($426k 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 | Dover | Sturbridge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,183 |
2,308Lowest |
9,960Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.5% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.5±1.8Highest 29% above MA |
47.5±4 19% above MA |
47.2±2.6Lowest 18% 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% |
20.7%±3 MA: 19.4% |
| Dover and Sturbridge 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% |
19.8%±3 MA: 17.9% |
| Sterling and Sturbridge 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% |
49.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
9.4%±4.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.5Lowest 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 |
$136,759±$15k 32% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $498,800±$48k 11% below MA |
$1,308,300±$149kHighest 133% above MA |
$425,800±$18kLowest 24% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,699±$161Highest 4% below MA |
— | $1,193±$398Lowest 32% below MA |
| Sterling and Sturbridge 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,520Lowest 9% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46%±23.1 MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
42%±17.7Lowest 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% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
86.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 16 yrs newer than MA |
1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA |
1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minLowest 18% above MA |
37 min 26% above MA |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
| Work from home | 18.3%±6.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
37.4%±8.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
19.8%±4.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #135 of 282 in MA | #1 of 282 in MA | #89 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Wachusett | — | Sturbridge · Tantasqua |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Tantasqua Regional Sr High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 7.7 |
| 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.