Compare towns
Sterling vs Georgetown vs Merrimac
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 most affordable homes ($499k median).
Georgetown has the most kids (23.5% under 18).
Merrimac has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).
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 | Georgetown | Merrimac |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,183 |
8,474Highest |
6,748Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.5% MA: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.5±1.8Highest 29% above MA |
42.8±3.5Lowest 7% above MA |
49.4±6.8 24% above MA |
| Sterling and Merrimac are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±4.1 MA: 19.4% |
23.5%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.5%±6.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Georgetown and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.9%±4 MA: 17.9% |
18.5%±2.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
26.7%±5.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Merrimac 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% MA: 47.3% |
56.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
41%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Sterling and Georgetown 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 24% above MA |
$151,595±$23kHighest 46% above MA |
$123,054±$16kLowest 18% above MA |
| Georgetown 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±$48kLowest 11% below MA |
$651,200±$23kHighest 16% above MA |
$553,400±$38k about the MA average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,699±$161 4% below MA |
$2,223±$506Highest 26% above MA |
$1,352±$325Lowest 23% below MA |
| Georgetown and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,757Lowest 13% above MA |
$7,272 21% above MA |
$7,399Highest 23% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46%±23.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
53.7%±22.5 MA: 51.8% |
59.3%±29.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Merrimac and Georgetown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6% MA: 10% |
3.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
9.4%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
84% MA: 62.5% |
81.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 16 yrs newer than MA |
1974Lowest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 18% above MA |
34 min 15% above MA |
32 minLowest 10% above MA |
| Work from home | 18.3%±6.2 MA: 18.6% |
20.2%±3.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
8.5%±3.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Georgetown 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 | #140 of 282 in MA | #188 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Wachusett | Georgetown | Pentucket |
| High school in town | None in town | Georgetown High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.3 |
— |
| 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.