The Town FilesSterling, Massachusetts
Town in Worcester County · population 7,985 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $498,800
- Household income
- $129,063
- Jan low / Jul high
- 16° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 67 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 16
- Median age
- 51.5
Sterling is a town of 7,985 people in Worcester County, Massachusetts. The median home is worth $498,800, close to the typical Massachusetts town ($510,150). It ranks better for families than 89% of Massachusetts towns, quieter than 89% of Massachusetts towns, better for retirees than 80% of Massachusetts towns.
How Sterling ranks
Percentile among Massachusetts towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Massachusetts towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Sterling is worth $498,800, close to the typical Massachusetts town ($510,150). Homes cost about 3.9 times the median household income of $129,063, which is more affordable than 78% of Massachusetts towns. Median rent is $1,699 a month. 86.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Sterling | Typical Massachusetts town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $498,800 | $510,150 |
| Median rent | $1,699 | $1,561 |
| Median household income | $129,063 | $108,622 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.9× | 4.5× |
| Homeownership | 86.3% | 80.7% |
| Median year built | 1980 | 1968 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Sterling
| People | Sterling | Typical Massachusetts town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 51.5 | 44.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 22.9% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 18.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 48.3% | 45.7% |
| Below the poverty line | 6.0% | 6.3% |
| Veterans | 6.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 6.7% | — |
| Work from home | 18.3% | 17.7% |
| Average commute | 34.3 min | 30.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 97.0% | 93.9% |
Weather in Sterling
July highs average 83.4°F and January lows 15.6°F. About 43.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 67.2 inches of snow (typical Massachusetts town: 49.5 in). Expect about 15 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 137 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
16 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Sterling since 1950, compared with 8 for the typical Massachusetts town. 7 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on June 9, 1953 about 5.3 miles from the town center and killed 90. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 90 deaths and 1,231 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on September 6, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 20 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on July 5, 1957.
Severe weather in Worcester County since 1996
Worcester County has been included in 32 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, tornado.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| May 15, 2024 | Flood | DR-4780: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| September 15, 2023 | Hurricane | EM-3599: Hurricane Lee |
| March 27, 2020 | Biological | DR-4496: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3438: Covid-19 |
| July 19, 2018 | Snowstorm | DR-4379: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
Jobs and pay in Worcester County
Worcester County had 351,476 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $71,641 a year. Unemployment was 3.5% in 2023; in Sterling itself the ACS puts it at 4%.
Public schools in Sterling
2 public schools with 591 students, about 12.8 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Houghton Elementary | K-4 | 318 | 13.8 |
| Chocksett Middle School | 5-8 | 273 | 11.9 |
Towns near Sterling
- Clinton, MA5.0 mi · 8,166 people · home $375,600
- Clinton, MA5.0 mi · 15,428 people · home $387,300
- Leominster, MA5.0 mi · 43,782 people · home $380,400
- Princeton, MA5.2 mi · 3,495 people · home $520,500
- West Boylston, MA5.4 mi · 7,877 people · home $440,000
- Lancaster, MA5.7 mi · 8,441 people · home $519,100
- Boylston, MA7.1 mi · 4,849 people · home $578,600
- Holden, MA7.7 mi · 19,905 people · home $470,700
Sterling questions
Is Sterling, Massachusetts a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Sterling scores better for retirees than 80% of Massachusetts towns and quieter than 89%. 22.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 51.5).
How much does a house cost in Sterling?
The median owner-occupied home in Sterling is valued at $498,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $129,063, so homes cost about 3.9 times income. Median rent is $1,699 a month.
What is the weather like in Sterling?
July highs average 83.4°F and January lows 15.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 43.4 inches of precipitation a year and 67.2 inches of snow.
Does Sterling get tornadoes?
16 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Sterling since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on June 9, 1953. The typical Massachusetts town has had 8.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)