Compare towns
Princeton vs Sterling vs Paxton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Princeton has the highest household income ($159k).
Sterling has the most affordable homes ($283k median).
Paxton has the shortest commute (31 min average).
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 | Princeton | Sterling | Paxton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,529Lowest |
3,629 |
5,002Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +4.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.1±7Highest 19% above U.S. |
39.4±5.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
41.8±3.3 7% above U.S. |
| Princeton and Paxton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.2%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
22.8%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Sterling and Princeton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.9%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Princeton and Paxton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
18%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
15.9%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $158,750±$46kHighest 97% above U.S. |
$102,695±$12kLowest 27% above U.S. |
$134,083±$8k 66% above U.S. |
| Princeton and Paxton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $520,500±$48kHighest 56% above U.S. |
$283,400±$17kLowest 15% below U.S. |
$472,300±$29k 42% above U.S. |
| Princeton and Paxton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $897±$852Lowest 37% below U.S. |
— | $1,386±$88Highest about the U.S. average |
| Paxton and Princeton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,633 113% above U.S. |
$4,551Lowest 46% above U.S. |
$7,129Highest 129% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.8%±46.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
32%±18.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
26.2%±15.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Princeton and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 38% above U.S. |
35 min 34% above U.S. |
31 minLowest 16% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 29.5%±6.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.6%±6.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±5.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Princeton and Paxton 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 | #59 of 282 in MA | #119 of 149 in CT | #219 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Wachusett | Sterling School District | Wachusett |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.