Compare towns
Sterling vs Gray vs Sturbridge
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 most expensive homes ($499k median).
Gray has the shortest commute (29 min average).
Sturbridge has the most kids (20.7% under 18).
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 | Gray | Sturbridge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,183Lowest |
8,429 |
9,960Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.5±1.8Highest 32% above U.S. |
43.4±4.5Lowest 12% above U.S. |
47.2±2.6 21% above U.S. |
| Sterling and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19%±4 U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Sturbridge and Gray 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% |
19.3%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sterling and Sturbridge 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% |
44.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
49.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Gray 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±$27k 60% above U.S. |
$95,236±$8kLowest 18% above U.S. |
$136,759±$15kHighest 69% above U.S. |
| Sturbridge 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±$48kHighest 50% above U.S. |
$363,700±$20kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$425,800±$18k 28% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,699±$161Highest 20% above U.S. |
$1,371±$89 about the U.S. average |
$1,193±$398Lowest 16% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,757Highest 117% above U.S. |
$3,683Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$6,520 109% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46%±23.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±24Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42%±17.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Gray and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Lowest same as U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 30% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 8% above U.S. |
38 minHighest 43% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.3%±6.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sturbridge 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 | #10 of 133 in ME | #89 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Wachusett | RSU 15/MSAD 15 · Fiddlehead School of Arts and Sciences | Sturbridge · Tantasqua |
| High school in town | None in town | Gray-New Gloucester High School | Tantasqua Regional Sr High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.5Highest |
7.7Lowest |
| 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.