Compare towns
Sterling vs Plainville vs Lancaster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sterling has the oldest population (median age 51.5).
Plainville has the most affordable homes ($254k median).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
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 | Plainville | Lancaster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,183Lowest |
17,551Highest |
8,606 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +4.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.5±1.8Highest 32% above U.S. |
44.3±1.5 14% above U.S. |
43.1±4.9Lowest 11% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.1%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sterling and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
30%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainville 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 60% above U.S. |
$84,343±$7kLowest 4% above U.S. |
$134,833±$27kHighest 67% above U.S. |
| 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±$48k 50% above U.S. |
$254,000±$14kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$519,100±$60kHighest 56% above U.S. |
| 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±$161 20% above U.S. |
$1,126±$147Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
| Lancaster and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,757 117% above U.S. |
$4,798Lowest 54% above U.S. |
$7,235Highest 132% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46%±23.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lancaster and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest same as U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.3%±6.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.7%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #89 of 149 in CT | #145 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Wachusett | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District | Nashoba |
| High school in town | None in town | Plainville High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.4 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.