Worcester Senior AdvisorLancaster and Sterling lie between Clinton and Leominster along Route 117, Route 70 and Route 12, with Lancaster's historic town green and Atlantic Union College's former campus, and Sterling's orchards and Wachusett-area farms.
Both towns have a nursing home, and North County's hospital in Leominster is a short drive. Aging Services of North Central Massachusetts handles home care for both.
How many older residents and certified care options are in Lancaster & Sterling, MA?
Lancaster & Sterling had about 17,519 residents on July 1, 2025 (up 1,079 since 2020) and about 3,592 residents 65 and older (21.4%), and the state and CMS records show 0 certified assisted living residences and 2 nursing homes there.
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Population, July 1, 2025 (Census estimate) | 17,519 |
| Population, April 2020 base | 16,440 |
| Residents 65+ (ACS 2020-2024) | 3,592 |
| Residents 85+ (ACS 2020-2024) | 292 |
| Lancaster: population 2025 / share 65+ | 9,161 / 19.9% |
| Sterling: population 2025 / share 65+ | 8,358 / 22.9% |
| With an address in Lancaster & Sterling | Without an address in Lancaster & Sterling | |
|---|---|---|
| State and CMS records | Nursing homes: 2 | Certified assisted living, Home health agencies, Hospices |
Is there certified assisted living in Lancaster & Sterling?
No certified Assisted Living Residence lists an address in Lancaster & Sterling; the nearest is The Gables of Fitchburg in Fitchburg, about 4.8 miles from the center of town.
| Residence / provider | Miles away | Town | Certified units | Special Care (memory) units |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Gables of Fitchburg 935 John Fitch Highway, 01740 | 4.8 | Fitchburg | 47 | 0 |
| Corcoran House 40 Walnut Street, 01510 | 5.0 | Clinton | 42 | 0 |
| Benchmark Senior Living at Leominster Crossings 1160 Main Street, 01453 | 5.1 | Leominster | 62 | 17 |
| Manor on the Hill 450 North Main Street, 01453 | 5.1 | Leominster | 81 | 17 |
Where is the closest memory care to Lancaster & Sterling?
The closest residence with Special Care Residence units is Benchmark Senior Living at Leominster Crossings in Leominster, about 5.1 miles away, with 17 memory care units.
- Benchmark Senior Living at Leominster Crossings, Leominster: 17 SCR units, 5.1 miles
- Manor on the Hill, Leominster: 17 SCR units, 5.1 miles
- Sunrise of Leominster, Leominster: 32 SCR units, 5.1 miles
What nursing homes are in Lancaster & Sterling, and how does CMS rate them?
2 certified nursing homes are in Lancaster & Sterling with 225 certified beds; 2 of the 2 rated by CMS hold four or five stars overall.
| Residence / provider | CMS overall rating | Certified beds | Avg. beds filled | Nurse hours / resident / day | Deficiencies cited |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| River Terrace Rehabilitation and Healthcare Ctr 1675 North Main Street, 01523 | 5 of 5 | 82 | 94% | 3.40 | 0 |
| Sterling Village 18 Dana Hill Road, 01564 | 4 of 5 | 143 | 93% | 3.74 | 3 |
Which hospitals are closest to Lancaster & Sterling?
Measured from the center of Lancaster & Sterling, the closest hospitals with emergency departments in CMS's data are UMass Memorial HealthAlliance Hospitals (about 5.1 miles) and Saint Vincent Hospital (about 16.6 miles).
Heywood Hospital in Gardner is about 17.4 miles away. These are straight-line distances, useful for comparison but not drive times.
Which agencies serve seniors in Lancaster & Sterling, MA?
Home care, nutrition programs and caregiver support for Lancaster & Sterling run through Aging Services of North Central Massachusetts, the Aging Services Access Point at (978) 537-7411, which also does free in-home assessments.
The town council on aging and senior center are the place to start for rides, meals and SHINE Medicare counseling; the ASAP handles home care and long-term care screening.
