Compare towns
Mendon 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
Mendon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.7%).
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 | Mendon | Princeton | Sterling |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,325 |
3,529Lowest |
8,183Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.4% MA: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.1±4.4Lowest 10% above MA |
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 | 22.8%±6.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
22.2%±4.6 MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±4.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Mendon and Princeton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14.7%±3.4Lowest 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+ | 46.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
59.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
48.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.8%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
1.9%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
| Mendon and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $132,256±$33k 27% above MA |
$158,750±$46kHighest 53% above MA |
$129,063±$27kLowest 24% above MA |
| Princeton and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $616,000±$37kHighest 10% above MA |
$520,500±$48k 7% below MA |
$498,800±$48kLowest 11% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,840±$196Highest 4% above MA |
$897±$852Lowest 49% below MA |
$1,699±$161 4% below MA |
| Mendon and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,213Highest 20% above MA |
$6,633Lowest 11% above MA |
$6,757 13% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 78.7%±26Highest MA: 51.8% |
69.8%±46.7 MA: 51.8% |
46%±23.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Mendon and Princeton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.1%Highest MA: 10% |
4.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.9% MA: 62.5% |
94.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
86.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 21 yrs newer than MA |
1975Lowest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1980 16 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest 4% above MA |
37 minHighest 25% above MA |
34 min 18% above MA |
| Work from home | 15.1%±5.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
29.5%±6.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
18.3%±6.2 MA: 18.6% |
| Princeton and Sterling 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 | #210 of 282 in MA | #59 of 282 in MA | #135 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Mendon-Upton | Wachusett | Wachusett |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.