Compare towns
Sterling vs Needham 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 affordable homes ($499k median).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Merrimac has the most renters (18.7% rent).
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 | Needham | Merrimac |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,183 |
32,459Highest |
6,748Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.5±1.8Highest 29% above MA |
43.1±1.6Lowest 8% 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% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.5%±6.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 22.9%±4 MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest 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% MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
41%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Needham 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±$27k 24% above MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$123,054±$16kLowest 18% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $498,800±$48kLowest 11% below MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$553,400±$38k about the MA average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,699±$161 4% below MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,352±$325Lowest 23% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,757Lowest 13% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$7,399 23% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46%±23.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
59.3%±29.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Merrimac and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6% MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
9.4%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.1% MA: 62.5% |
81.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 16 yrs newer than MA |
1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 18% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
32 min 10% above MA |
| Work from home | 18.3%±6.2 MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
8.5%±3.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #135 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #188 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Wachusett | — | Pentucket |
| High school 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.