What stands out worked out from the figures below

Sterling has the highest household income ($129k).

Easthampton has the shortest commute (22 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Sterling	Easthampton
People
Population	8,183Lowest	16,086Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.3% MA: +7.4%	—
Median age	51.5±1.8Highest 29% above MA	46±2.6Lowest 15% above MA
Kids under 18	18.6%±4.1Highest MA: 19.4%	15.5%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Sterling and Easthampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.9%±4Lowest MA: 17.9%	23.9%±3Highest MA: 17.9%
	Easthampton 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%	38%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.8%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9%	6.1%±1.9Highest MA: 7.9%
	Easthampton 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	$71,673±$7kLowest 31% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$498,800±$48kHighest 11% below MA	$371,500±$15kLowest 34% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,699±$161Highest 4% below MA	$1,292±$70Lowest 27% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,757Highest 13% above MA	$4,932Lowest 18% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	46%±23.1Highest MA: 51.8%	45.5%±10.7Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Sterling and Easthampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6%Lowest MA: 10%	8%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	86.3%Highest MA: 62.5%	58.4%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA	1966Lowest 2 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minHighest 18% above MA	22 minLowest 23% below MA
Work from home	18.3%±6.2Lowest MA: 18.6%	19%±3.2Highest MA: 18.6%
	Easthampton 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	#92 of 282 in MA
School district	Wachusett	Easthampton
High school in town	None in town	Easthampton High
Students per teacherat that high school	—	9.8
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.