Compare towns
Sterling vs Groton vs Clinton
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 oldest population (median age 51.5).
Groton has the most kids (28.3% under 18).
Clinton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.4%).
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 | Groton | Clinton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,183Lowest |
11,390 |
15,563Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.3% MA: +7.4% |
+13.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.5±1.8Highest 29% above MA |
41.4±2.7 4% above MA |
38.6±2.7Lowest 4% below MA |
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±4.1 MA: 19.4% |
28.3%±4.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
17.8%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 22.9%±4Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.3%±2.8 MA: 17.9% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Sterling and Groton 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% |
70.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
36.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1.9 MA: 7.9% |
6.9%±2Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Clinton and Groton 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 |
$192,958±$27kHighest 86% above MA |
$89,781±$10kLowest 14% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $498,800±$48k 11% below MA |
$743,400±$46kHighest 32% above MA |
$387,300±$19kLowest 31% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,699±$161Highest 4% below MA |
$1,458±$335 17% below MA |
$1,402±$76Lowest 20% below MA |
| Sterling and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,757 13% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$4,654Lowest 22% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46%±23.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
43.8%±17 MA: 51.8% |
40.3%±6.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Sterling and Groton 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% |
8.6%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3% MA: 62.5% |
88.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
54.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 16 yrs newer than MA |
1988Highest 24 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 18% above MA |
32 min 11% above MA |
30 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 18.3%±6.2 MA: 18.6% |
27.5%±5.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
14.2%±4.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Groton 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 | #39 of 282 in MA | #246 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Wachusett | Groton-Dunstable | Clinton |
| High school in town | None in town | Groton Dunstable Regional | Clinton Senior High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.7Highest |
12.8Lowest |
| 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.