Compare towns
West Boylston vs Worcester vs Sterling
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Worcester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.1%).
Sterling has the highest household income ($129k).
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 | Worcester | Sterling |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,782Lowest |
207,055Highest |
8,183 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.7% MA: +7.4% |
+14.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.5±2.7 14% above MA |
33.9±0.5Lowest 15% below MA |
51.5±1.8Highest 29% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±3.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±0.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±4.1 MA: 19.4% |
| Worcester 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% |
13.3%±0.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.9%±4 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% |
35.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
48.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
14.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $104,551±$12k about the MA average |
$70,102±$2kLowest 33% below MA |
$129,063±$27kHighest 24% above MA |
| Sterling and West Boylston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $440,000±$24k 22% below MA |
$374,400±$7kLowest 33% below MA |
$498,800±$48kHighest 11% below MA |
| Sterling and West Boylston 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 |
$1,487±$38 16% below MA |
$1,699±$161Highest 4% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,115 about the MA average |
$4,733Lowest 21% below MA |
$6,757Highest 13% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.9%±12.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
54.2%±2.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
46%±23.1 MA: 51.8% |
| Worcester and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.6% MA: 10% |
19.6%Highest MA: 10% |
6%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.9% MA: 62.5% |
42.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1951Lowest 13 yrs older than MA |
1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 14% below MA |
24 minLowest 17% below MA |
34 minHighest 18% above MA |
| Work from home | 17.7%±4.5 MA: 18.6% |
11.5%±1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
18.3%±6.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Sterling and West Boylston 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 | #266 of 282 in MA | #135 of 282 in MA |
| School district | West Boylston | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | Wachusett |
| High school in town | West Boylston Junior/Senior High | South High Community | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.6Lowest |
14.6Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.