What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Gardner has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.2%).

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	Gardner
People
Population	8,183Lowest	21,148Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+5.2%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	51.5±1.8Highest 29% above MA	43.7±2.3Lowest 9% above MA
Kids under 18	18.6%±4.1Highest MA: 19.4%	18.3%±2.3Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Sterling and Gardner 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%	19.6%±2.2Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Sterling and Gardner 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%	23.8%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.8%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9%	4.6%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Sterling and Gardner 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	$67,518±$8kLowest 35% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$498,800±$48kHighest 11% below MA	$301,600±$20kLowest 46% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,699±$161Highest 4% below MA	$1,109±$51Lowest 37% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,757Highest 13% above MA	$4,150Lowest 31% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	46%±23.1Lowest MA: 51.8%	49.7%±8.6Highest MA: 51.8%
	Gardner 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%	13.7%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	86.3%Highest MA: 62.5%	58.9%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA	1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minHighest 18% above MA	31 minLowest 5% above MA
Work from home	18.3%±6.2Highest MA: 18.6%	13.3%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Sterling and Gardner 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	#273 of 282 in MA
School district	Wachusett	Gardner
High school in town	None in town	Gardner High
Students per teacherat that high school	—	13.5
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.