Compare towns
Sterling vs Windham 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).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.4%).
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 | Windham | Lancaster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,183Lowest |
19,188Highest |
8,606 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.5±1.8Highest 32% above U.S. |
41.8±1.8Lowest 7% above U.S. |
43.1±4.9 11% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 22.9%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sterling and Lancaster 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% |
44.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Sterling and Windham 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. |
$107,934±$14kLowest 34% 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. |
$388,900±$22kLowest 17% above 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. |
$1,232±$332Lowest 13% 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. |
$3,938Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$7,235Highest 132% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46%±23.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
32.7%±14.7Lowest 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%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.3%±6.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #135 of 282 in MA | #95 of 133 in ME | #145 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Wachusett | RSU 14 | Nashoba |
| High school in town | None in town | Windham High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1 |
— |
| 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.