What stands out worked out from the figures below

Sterling has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.3%).

Hardwick has the most affordable homes ($347k median).

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	Hardwick
People
Population	8,183Highest	2,684Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.3%Highest MA: +7.4%	-10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	51.5±1.8Highest 29% above MA	45.3±9.8Lowest 13% above MA
	Sterling and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.6%±4.1Lowest MA: 19.4%	20.5%±5.6Highest MA: 19.4%
	Hardwick 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%	22.7%±5Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Sterling and Hardwick 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%	30.9%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.8%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9%	6.2%±4.4Highest MA: 7.9%
	Hardwick 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	$75,000±$22kLowest 28% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$498,800±$48kHighest 11% below MA	$346,700±$67kLowest 38% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,699±$161Highest 4% below MA	$1,108±$119Lowest 37% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,757Highest 13% above MA	$4,400Lowest 27% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	46%±23.1Lowest MA: 51.8%	59%±13.8Highest MA: 51.8%
	Hardwick and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6%Lowest MA: 10%	11%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	86.3%Highest MA: 62.5%	68.2%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA	1968Lowest 4 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minHighest 18% above MA	31 minLowest 7% above MA
Work from home	18.3%±6.2Highest MA: 18.6%	8.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Sterling and Hardwick 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	#163 of 282 in MA
School district	Wachusett	Quabbin
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.