Compare towns
Webster vs Sterling vs Whitman
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Webster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Sterling has the most people working from home (18.3%).
Whitman has the most kids (21.1% under 18).
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 | Webster | Sterling | Whitman |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,748Highest |
8,183Lowest |
15,295 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.9±2.9Lowest about the MA average |
51.5±1.8Highest 29% above MA |
40.4±1.8 about the MA average |
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±4.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Whitman and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.6%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
22.9%±4Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.5%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Sterling and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
48.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
31.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Webster and Whitman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $72,895±$6kLowest 30% below MA |
$129,063±$27kHighest 24% above MA |
$108,933±$14k 5% above MA |
| Sterling and Whitman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $361,500±$12kLowest 36% below MA |
$498,800±$48kHighest 11% below MA |
$472,700±$12k 16% below MA |
| Sterling and Whitman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,228±$81Lowest 30% below MA |
$1,699±$161 4% below MA |
$1,771±$151Highest about the MA average |
| Whitman and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,999Lowest 33% below MA |
$6,757Highest 13% above MA |
$5,824 about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.7%±6.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
46%±23.1 MA: 51.8% |
61.9%±13.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Whitman and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.7%Highest MA: 10% |
6%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
71.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962 2 yrs older than MA |
1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 5% above MA |
34 min 18% above MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
| Work from home | 8%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
18.3%±6.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.8%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
| Sterling and Whitman 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 | #271 of 282 in MA | #135 of 282 in MA | #191 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Webster | Wachusett | Whitman-Hanson |
| High school in town | Bartlett High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6 |
— | — |
| 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.