Compare towns
Sterling vs Windham vs Lancaster vs Marion
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Windham has the most affordable homes ($389k median).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
Marion has the most expensive homes ($654k median).
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 | Marion |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,183 |
19,188Highest |
8,606 |
5,310Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.5±1.8 32% above U.S. |
41.8±1.8Lowest 7% above U.S. |
43.1±4.9 11% above U.S. |
53.8±4Highest 38% above U.S. |
| Marion and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.7%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 22.9%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.3%±5.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Marion 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.7%±4.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Marion 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. |
$107,934±$14kLowest 34% above U.S. |
$134,833±$27k 67% above U.S. |
$143,092±$30kHighest 77% above U.S. |
| Marion and Lancaster 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±$60k 56% above U.S. |
$653,500±$47kHighest 96% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,699±$161 20% above U.S. |
$1,232±$332 13% below U.S. |
$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
$1,176±$516Lowest 17% below 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. |
$5,766 85% 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%±36.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
75.8%±26.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Marion and Lancaster 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1962Lowest 18 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. |
34 min 27% 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% |
20.1%±8.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lancaster and Marion 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 | #145 of 282 in MA | #141 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Wachusett | RSU 14 | Nashoba | Marion |
| High school in town | None in town | Windham High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.