Compare towns
Sterling vs Upton vs West Boylston
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 oldest population (median age 51.5).
Upton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).
West Boylston has the shortest commute (25 min average).
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 | Upton | West Boylston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,183 |
8,189Highest |
7,782Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.7% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.5±1.8Highest 29% above MA |
46.4±4.8 16% above MA |
45.5±2.7Lowest 14% above MA |
| Sterling and Upton 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% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.3%±3.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Upton 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% |
20.7%±4.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
25.8%±3.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
| West Boylston 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% |
53.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
41.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
2.8%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Sterling and West Boylston 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 |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$104,551±$12kLowest about the MA average |
| Upton 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 11% below MA |
$576,700±$41kHighest about the MA average |
$440,000±$24kLowest 22% below MA |
| Upton 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 |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,261±$154 28% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,757 13% above MA |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$6,115Lowest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46%±23.1 MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31Highest MA: 51.8% |
29.9%±12.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Upton and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
6.6%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3% MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
77.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 16 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 18% above MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
25 minLowest 14% below MA |
| Work from home | 18.3%±6.2 MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
17.7%±4.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Upton 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 | #46 of 282 in MA | #97 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Wachusett | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | West Boylston |
| High school in town | None in town | Blackstone Valley | West Boylston Junior/Senior High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.2Highest |
10.6Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.