What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Pepperell has the youngest population (median age 42.4).

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	Pepperell
People
Population	8,183Lowest	11,663Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.3%Highest MA: +7.4%	+0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	51.5±1.8Highest 29% above MA	42.4±3.3Lowest 6% above MA
Kids under 18	18.6%±4.1Lowest MA: 19.4%	20.1%±3.3Highest MA: 19.4%
	Pepperell 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%	18.2%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Sterling and Pepperell 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%	43.8%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.8%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9%	5.7%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9%
	Pepperell 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	$124,073±$12kLowest 19% above MA
	Sterling and Pepperell 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	$482,100±$14kLowest 14% below MA
	Sterling and Pepperell 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	$1,295±$238Lowest 27% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,757Highest 13% above MA	$6,698Lowest 12% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	46%±23.1Highest MA: 51.8%	45.1%±16.1Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Sterling and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6%Lowest MA: 10%	8%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	86.3%Highest MA: 62.5%	84.3%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Lowest 16 yrs newer than MA	1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minHighest 18% above MA	34 minLowest 16% above MA
Work from home	18.3%±6.2Highest MA: 18.6%	18.1%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Sterling and Pepperell 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	#153 of 282 in MA
School district	Wachusett	North Middlesex
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.