Compare towns
Sterling vs Enfield vs Lancaster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sterling has the oldest population (median age 51.5).
Enfield has the most affordable homes ($253k median).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
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 | Enfield | Lancaster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,183Lowest |
41,090Highest |
8,606 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +4.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.5±1.8Highest 32% above U.S. |
40.7±1.9Lowest 5% above U.S. |
43.1±4.9 11% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±1.7 U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Lancaster and Enfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.9%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sterling and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
31.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±0.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Sterling and Enfield 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 60% above U.S. |
$90,404±$5kLowest 12% above U.S. |
$134,833±$27kHighest 67% above U.S. |
| Lancaster 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 50% above U.S. |
$252,900±$7kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$519,100±$60kHighest 56% above U.S. |
| Lancaster and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,699±$161 20% above U.S. |
$1,574±$83Lowest 11% above U.S. |
$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
| Lancaster and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,757 117% above U.S. |
$5,360Lowest 72% above U.S. |
$7,235Highest 132% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46%±23.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.7%±6.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lancaster and Enfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest same as U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.3%±6.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lancaster 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 | #123 of 149 in CT | #145 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Wachusett | Capitol Region Education Council · Enfield School District | Nashoba |
| High school in town | None in town | Enfield High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.5 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.