Compare towns
Ayer vs Princeton vs Sterling
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ayer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
Princeton has the most people working from home (29.5%).
Sterling has the oldest population (median age 51.5).
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 | Ayer | Princeton | Sterling |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,645Highest |
3,529Lowest |
8,183 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.4% MA: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average |
46.1±7 15% above MA |
51.5±1.8Highest 29% above MA |
| Sterling and Princeton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±3.9 MA: 19.4% |
22.2%±4.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±4.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Princeton and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.9%±3.6 MA: 17.9% |
22.9%±4Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Sterling and Princeton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
59.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
48.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
1.9%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Sterling and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $101,875±$15kLowest about the MA average |
$158,750±$46kHighest 53% above MA |
$129,063±$27k 24% above MA |
| Princeton and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $463,800±$29kLowest 17% below MA |
$520,500±$48kHighest 7% below MA |
$498,800±$48k 11% below MA |
| Princeton and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,415±$180 20% below MA |
$897±$852Lowest 49% below MA |
$1,699±$161Highest 4% below MA |
| Sterling and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,057Lowest 16% below MA |
$6,633 11% above MA |
$6,757Highest 13% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±14.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
69.8%±46.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
46%±23.1 MA: 51.8% |
| Princeton and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.7%Highest MA: 10% |
4.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
94.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
86.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
1975Lowest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minLowest 13% above MA |
37 minHighest 25% above MA |
34 min 18% above MA |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9 MA: 18.6% |
29.5%±6.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
18.3%±6.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Princeton and Ayer 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 | #113 of 282 in MA | #59 of 282 in MA | #135 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | Wachusett | Wachusett |
| High school in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5 |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 12 photos → | 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.