Compare towns
Sterling vs Hardwick vs Merrimac
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 people working from home (18.3%).
Hardwick has the most affordable homes ($347k median).
Merrimac has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).
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.
| Measure | Sterling | Hardwick | Merrimac |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,183Highest |
2,684Lowest |
6,748 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3% MA: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.5±1.8Highest 29% above MA |
45.3±9.8Lowest 13% above MA |
49.4±6.8 24% above MA |
| Sterling and Merrimac are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±4.1 MA: 19.4% |
20.5%±5.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.5%±6.2Lowest 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%±4 MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
26.7%±5.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Merrimac 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%Highest MA: 47.3% |
30.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
41% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±4.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest 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 |
$123,054±$16k 18% above MA |
| Sterling and Merrimac 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 |
$346,700±$67kLowest 38% below MA |
$553,400±$38kHighest about the MA average |
| Merrimac 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 |
$1,108±$119Lowest 37% below MA |
$1,352±$325 23% below MA |
| Sterling and Merrimac 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 |
$4,400Lowest 27% below MA |
$7,399Highest 23% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46%±23.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
59%±13.8 MA: 51.8% |
59.3%±29.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Merrimac and Hardwick 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% |
9.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
68.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
81.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 16 yrs newer than MA |
1968Lowest 4 yrs newer than MA |
1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 18% above MA |
31 minLowest 7% above MA |
32 min 10% above MA |
| Work from home | 18.3%±6.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
8.7%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
8.5%±3.4Lowest 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 | #188 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Wachusett | Quabbin | Pentucket |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.