What stands out worked out from the figures below

Sterling has the oldest population (median age 51.5).

Lancaster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).

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	Lancaster
People
Population	8,183Lowest	8,606Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+4.8%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	51.5±1.8Highest 29% above MA	43.1±4.9Lowest 8% above MA
Kids under 18	18.6%±4.1Lowest MA: 19.4%	19.2%±4Highest MA: 19.4%
	Lancaster 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%	19.9%±4.2Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Sterling and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	48.3%Lowest MA: 47.3%	50.3%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.8%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9%	3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Sterling and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$129,063±$27kLowest 24% above MA	$134,833±$27kHighest 30% above MA
	Lancaster and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$498,800±$48kLowest 11% below MA	$519,100±$60kHighest 8% below MA
	Lancaster and Sterling 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	$2,338±$539Highest 33% above MA
	Lancaster 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	$7,235Highest 21% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	46%±23.1Lowest MA: 51.8%	68.3%±36.7Highest MA: 51.8%
	Lancaster and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6%Highest MA: 10%	1.4%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	86.3%Highest MA: 62.5%	85.1%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA	1971Lowest 7 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minHighest 18% above MA	32 minLowest 9% above MA
Work from home	18.3%±6.2Lowest MA: 18.6%	33.6%±9.1Highest MA: 18.6%
	Lancaster 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	#145 of 282 in MA
School district	Wachusett	Nashoba
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.