Compare towns
Sterling vs Windham vs Clinton
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 most expensive homes ($499k median).
Windham has the shortest commute (26 min average).
Clinton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.4%).
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.
| Measure | Sterling | Windham | Clinton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,183Lowest |
19,188Highest |
15,563 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+13.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.5±1.8Highest 32% above U.S. |
41.8±1.8 7% above U.S. |
38.6±2.7Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.8%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Windham 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% |
15.9%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Clinton 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 60% above U.S. |
$107,934±$14k 34% above U.S. |
$89,781±$10kLowest 11% above U.S. |
| Sterling and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $498,800±$48kHighest 50% above U.S. |
$388,900±$22k 17% above U.S. |
$387,300±$19kLowest 16% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,699±$161Highest 20% above U.S. |
$1,232±$332Lowest 13% below U.S. |
$1,402±$76 about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,757Highest 117% above U.S. |
$3,938Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$4,654 49% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46%±23.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
32.7%±14.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±6.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Sterling and Clinton 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% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
54.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
30 min 13% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.3%±6.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.2%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Windham 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 | #95 of 133 in ME | #246 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Wachusett | RSU 14 | Clinton |
| High school in town | None in town | Windham High School | Clinton Senior High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1Lowest |
12.8Highest |
| 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.