What stands out worked out from the figures below

Sterling has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.3%).

Fairhaven has the shortest commute (29 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	Fairhaven
People
Population	8,183Lowest	15,903Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.3%Highest MA: +7.4%	+0.3%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	51.5±1.8Highest 29% above MA	48.5±3.4Lowest 21% above MA
	Sterling and Fairhaven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.6%±4.1Highest MA: 19.4%	16.9%±2.7Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Sterling and Fairhaven 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%	24.9%±2.9Highest MA: 17.9%
	Fairhaven 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%	32.5%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.8%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9%	3.3%±1Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Sterling and Fairhaven 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	$95,965±$19kLowest 8% below MA
	Sterling and Fairhaven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$498,800±$48kHighest 11% below MA	$446,700±$19kLowest 21% below MA
	Sterling and Fairhaven 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	$1,118±$79Lowest 37% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,757Highest 13% above MA	$3,566Lowest 40% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	46%±23.1Lowest MA: 51.8%	51.1%±14Highest MA: 51.8%
	Fairhaven and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6%Lowest MA: 10%	8.3%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	86.3%Highest MA: 62.5%	74.4%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA	1952Lowest 12 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minHighest 18% above MA	29 minLowest about the MA average
Work from home	18.3%±6.2Highest MA: 18.6%	11.4%±3.3Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Sterling and Fairhaven 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	#126 of 282 in MA
School district	Wachusett	Fairhaven
High school in town	None in town	Fairhaven High
Students per teacherat that high school	—	11.4
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.