Sawyer Homestead · Photo: John Phelan · CC BY 3.0Sterling spent more per resident in 2022 than 77% of similar towns
Sterling’s town government spent $13.5 million on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2022, about $1,653 per resident. Water and other utilities ($11.5 million) are counted separately.
What stands out about how Sterling is run
Read from the town’s budget and official records.
$1,653 per resident in 2022: more than 77% of them
Sterling’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($1,653 per resident, hospital and utilities left out) against 48 Massachusetts towns and townships of 2,500–9,999 that don’t run their own schools: the median was $1,363, and the middle half spent $1,208–$1,583. Sterling spent more than 77% of them.
Includes sewer and trash ($586,000), as the Census Bureau counts them. Later years come from a Census sample, so the comparison stays on 2022. How Town Hall compares budgets →
Massachusetts towns and townships of 2,500–9,999 that don’t run their own schools, 2022 Census of Governments (every government counted that year; Sterling itself left out).
About $1,653 per resident a year, or $4.53 a day
Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: police, at 16%.
Thank you for being a neighbor
No trend yet
Sterling reported only 2022 to the Census Bureau, so there is no trend yet.
The typical homeowner pays $6,757 a year
Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 1.35% of the home’s value, vs 1.07% across Massachusetts.
Typical yearly bill next door and statewide
The Housing page’s calculator splits a monthly payment into loan, tax and insurance at Sterling’s rate.
Can I afford it? →The median bill homeowners report to the Census survey (bills of $10,000+ are reported as “$10,000+”). The effective rate is that bill ÷ the median home value: a rough guide, not the official tax rate.
Tax bills are one input to Sterling’s Cost of living grade. Cost of living in Sterling →
Who’s in charge in Sterling
Names change after every election, so we link to the source that keeps them current.
Sterling’s meeting calendar isn’t in our feed yet. The town posts agendas and minutes on sterling-ma.gov ↗.
One full-time town employee for every 112 residents
On the payroll in March 2022, from the Census Bureau’s Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll (a Census estimate). Residents: the Census population in the 2022 finance file (8,166).
By department full-time, plus part-time, March 2022
The Census reports one month’s payroll (March); yearly figures are that month × 12, an estimate. Part-timers count half in the bar lengths.
Wachusett School District
Sterling’s K–12 school district, shared with Holden, Paxton, Princeton, Rutland. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.
Of the $18,540 per pupil, $12,227 goes to the classroom (teachers, aides, supplies); the rest to buses, buildings, counselors and administration. Building projects and debt payments aren’t in the per-pupil figure.
Massachusetts districts overall: 49% local, 43% state, 8% federal.
School year 2023–24. Census Bureau school finance survey.
How Sterling voted in 2024
Official results for Sterling’s own voters, as certified after the November 5, 2024 general election, with the county and the state beside them.
Kamala D HarrisDemocrat51.3%2,832 votes
Donald J TrumpRepublican46.1%2,541 votesOthers: 2.6% (143 votes).
Most votes in Sterling: Kamala D Harris
Worcester County: Harris 53.6%, Trump 43.7% · Massachusetts: Harris 61.2%, Trump 36.0%
of Sterling’s 6,473 adult citizens voted for president in 2024. Across Massachusetts: 67%.
Votes ÷ citizens of voting age (Census CVAP, 2020–24 ACS).
Most votes in Sterling: John Deaton
Worcester County: Warren 51.9%, Deaton 48.0% · Massachusetts: Warren 59.8%, Deaton 40.0%
Most votes in the district: James P Mc Govern
Whole-district result
President, 2024: Sterling, its county and the state
| Harris | Trump | Others | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sterling | 51.3% | 46.1% | 2.6% | 5,516 |
| Worcester County | 53.6% | 43.7% | 2.7% | 420,841 |
| Massachusetts | 61.2% | 36.0% | 2.8% | 3,473,668 |
Official 2024 general election returns, as certified (MIT Election Data + Science Lab). Percentages are of votes for candidates; blank and spoiled ballots aren’t counted. Candidates are listed by votes, and party colors are neutral on purpose.
Portraits: Kamala D Harris: official vice-presidential portrait, Lawrence Jackson, The White House, 2021; Donald J Trump: official portrait, Shealah Craighead, The White House, 2017. All are U.S. government works in the public domain. A race shows photos only when every candidate has an official portrait; otherwise every candidate in it gets initials.
From town hall to Washington
Every level of government that speaks for Sterling.
- 1Your townTown governmentOfficials: sterling-ma.gov ↗
- 2Massachusetts HouseState representatives
- 3Massachusetts SenateState senator
- 4GovernorStatewide
- 5U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress
- 6U.S. SenateBoth represent all of Massachusetts
Democrat · Republican · other or independent. Tap a name for their official page.
How Sterling compares with the towns next door
Sterling spent $1,653 per resident in 2022; the 5 neighbors that reported 2022 spent $994 to $4,405. Towns that run more services spend more. Tap a town to see its page.
| Town | Day-to-day, per resident (2022) | Tax bill |
|---|---|---|
| Lancaster | $994 | $7,235 |
| Holden | $1,112 | $6,359 |
| Princeton | $1,374 | $6,633 |
| West Boylston | $4,213 runs schools | $6,115 |
| Clinton | $4,405 runs schools | $4,654 |
| Sterling | $1,653 | $6,757 |
Day-to-day spending in 2022, the last year every government was counted, for governments that reported it; hospital and utilities left out. Tax bill: the typical homeowner’s bill (Census ACS, 2020–24).
Reach Sterling’s government
The official site has phone numbers, hours and forms. Neighbors add the rest to the Handbook.
Questions about Sterling’s government
How much does Sterling spend per resident?
About $1,653 per resident on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2022, as reported to the Census Bureau. In 2022, the last full count, its $1,653 was more than 77% of 48 Massachusetts towns and townships of 2,500–9,999 that don’t run their own schools.
What is the property tax rate in Sterling?
Homeowners report a typical bill of $6,757 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 1.35% of the typical home’s value, vs 1.07% across Massachusetts. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see sterling-ma.gov.
Who runs Sterling’s government?
See sterling-ma.gov for current officials. We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for Sterling yet.
How did Sterling vote in 2024?
For president, Kamala D Harris 51.3%, Donald J Trump 46.1% (5,516 votes, official results). Worcester County: Harris 53.6%, Trump 43.7%. Massachusetts: Harris 61.2%, Trump 36.0%.
How many people work for Sterling?
73 full-time and 104 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $594,215 (about $7.1M a year if every month were the same); Census Bureau estimates.
Who represents Sterling in the state legislature?
State Senate District Worcester and Hampshire (Peter Durant) and State House District 12th Worcester (Meg Kilcoyne). The House district also covers five other towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.
Ask neighbors about Sterling’s government
Neighbors who’ve been to the meetings can help.
Budget and staff: U.S. Census Bureau, Census of Governments (2022, every government) and Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances (2023–24, a sample) and the Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll; day-to-day spending is current operations, with hospitals, utilities and airports apart. School district: Census school finance survey, 2023–24. Property tax: Census American Community Survey, 2020–24. Elections: official 2024 returns via the MIT Election Data + Science Lab; turnout uses Census citizen voting-age population (CVAP, 2020–24). Officials: Open States, names shown only with a current term (checked October 9, 2026). Districts: Census Bureau (119th Congress, 2024 state districts); legislators: Open States and congress-legislators. How Town Hall works →