Compare towns
Sterling vs Hadley 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 most homeowners (86.3%).
Hadley has the shortest commute (20 min average).
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 | Hadley | Clinton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,183 |
5,306Lowest |
15,563Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3% MA: +7.4% |
+1.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+13.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.5±1.8Highest 29% above MA |
45.8±7.1 15% above MA |
38.6±2.7Lowest 4% below MA |
| Sterling and Hadley 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% |
16.2%±4.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
17.8%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Sterling and Clinton 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% |
24.2%±4.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Hadley 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% |
61.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
36.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
10.9%±5.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
6.9%±2 MA: 7.9% |
| Hadley and Clinton 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 |
$119,259±$12k 15% above MA |
$89,781±$10kLowest 14% below MA |
| Sterling and Hadley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $498,800±$48k 11% below MA |
$511,000±$43kHighest 9% below MA |
$387,300±$19kLowest 31% below MA |
| Hadley and Sterling 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 |
$1,402±$132Lowest 20% below MA |
$1,402±$76Lowest 20% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,757Highest 13% above MA |
$5,271 12% below MA |
$4,654Lowest 22% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46%±23.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
38.6%±18.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
40.3%±6.4 MA: 51.8% |
| Sterling and Clinton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6%Lowest MA: 10% |
6.4% MA: 10% |
8.6%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.4% MA: 62.5% |
54.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 18% above MA |
20 minLowest 33% below MA |
30 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 18.3%±6.2 MA: 18.6% |
20.1%±7.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
14.2%±4.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Hadley 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 | #116 of 282 in MA | #246 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Wachusett | Hadley | Clinton |
| High school in town | None in town | Hopkins Academy | Clinton Senior High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.3Lowest |
12.8Highest |
| 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.