Compare towns
Sterling vs Ware 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 highest household income ($129k).
Ware has the most affordable homes ($290k median).
West Boylston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.7%).
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 | Ware | West Boylston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,183 |
10,048Highest |
7,782Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3% MA: +7.4% |
+2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.5±1.8Highest 29% above MA |
43.1±4.7Lowest 8% above MA |
45.5±2.7 14% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±4.1 MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.3%±3.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Ware 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% |
20.6%±3.4Lowest 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%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
41.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
2.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Sterling and Ware 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 |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% below MA |
$104,551±$12k about the MA average |
| Sterling and West Boylston 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 |
$289,700±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
$440,000±$24k 22% below MA |
| Sterling and West Boylston 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 |
$1,043±$109Lowest 41% below MA |
$1,261±$154 28% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,757Highest 13% above MA |
$4,237Lowest 29% below MA |
$6,115 about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46%±23.1 MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
29.9%±12.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6%Lowest MA: 10% |
11.8%Highest MA: 10% |
6.6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
72.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
77.9% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 18% above MA |
28 min about the MA average |
25 minLowest 14% below MA |
| Work from home | 18.3%±6.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
17.7%±4.5 MA: 18.6% |
| Sterling and West Boylston 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 | #267 of 282 in MA | #97 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Wachusett | Ware | West Boylston |
| High school in town | None in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School | West Boylston Junior/Senior High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1Highest |
10.6Lowest |
| 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.