What stands out worked out from the figures below

Sterling has the most people working from home (18.3%).

Halifax has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.1%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Sterling	Halifax
People
Population	8,183Highest	7,748Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+3.1%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	51.5±1.8Highest 29% above MA	41.9±4.7Lowest 5% above MA
Kids under 18	18.6%±4.1Lowest MA: 19.4%	22.2%±5.9Highest MA: 19.4%
	Halifax and Sterling 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%	18.8%±3.6Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Sterling and Halifax 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%	36.1%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.8%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9%	5%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9%
	Halifax 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±$27kHighest 24% above MA	$118,556±$11kLowest 14% above MA
	Sterling and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$498,800±$48kHighest 11% below MA	$481,500±$51kLowest 14% below MA
	Sterling and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,699±$161Lowest 4% below MA	$1,804±$375Highest about the MA average
	Halifax 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	$6,840Highest 14% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	46%±23.1Highest MA: 51.8%	45.6%±37.4Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Sterling and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6%Highest MA: 10%	2.6%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	86.3%Lowest MA: 62.5%	95.5%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA	1979Lowest 15 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minLowest 18% above MA	35 minHighest 22% above MA
Work from home	18.3%±6.2Highest MA: 18.6%	13.9%±5.3Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Sterling and Halifax 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	#120 of 282 in MA
School district	Wachusett	Halifax
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.