Compare towns
West Boylston vs Sterling vs Douglas
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
West Boylston has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Sterling has the oldest population (median age 51.5).
Douglas has grown the fastest since 2010 (+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 | West Boylston | Sterling | Douglas |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,782Lowest |
8,183 |
9,207Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.7% MA: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.5±2.7 14% above MA |
51.5±1.8Highest 29% above MA |
44±2.6Lowest 10% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±3.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±4.1 MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Douglas and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.8%±3.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
22.9%±4 MA: 17.9% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest 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+ | 41.8% MA: 47.3% |
48.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
41.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Douglas and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $104,551±$12kLowest about the MA average |
$129,063±$27k 24% above MA |
$152,267±$10kHighest 46% above MA |
| Douglas and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $440,000±$24kLowest 22% below MA |
$498,800±$48kHighest 11% below MA |
$470,600±$29k 16% below MA |
| Sterling and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,261±$154Lowest 28% below MA |
$1,699±$161Highest 4% below MA |
$1,503±$697 15% below MA |
| Sterling and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,115Lowest about the MA average |
$6,757Highest 13% above MA |
$6,338 6% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.9%±12.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
46%±23.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
33.9%±17.4 MA: 51.8% |
| Sterling and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.6%Highest MA: 10% |
6% MA: 10% |
4.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.8% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA |
1980 16 yrs newer than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 14% below MA |
34 minHighest 18% above MA |
34 min 16% above MA |
| Work from home | 17.7%±4.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
18.3%±6.2 MA: 18.6% |
20.9%±4.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Douglas 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 | #97 of 282 in MA | #135 of 282 in MA | #177 of 282 in MA |
| School district | West Boylston | Wachusett | Douglas |
| High school in town | West Boylston Junior/Senior High | None in town | Douglas High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.6Highest |
— | 7.2Lowest |
| 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.