Compare towns
Princeton vs Woonsocket vs Sterling
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 most people working from home (29.5%).
Woonsocket has grown the fastest since 2010 (+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 | Princeton | Woonsocket | Sterling |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,529Lowest |
43,521Highest |
8,183 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.1±7 19% above U.S. |
35.7±1.3Lowest 8% below U.S. |
51.5±1.8Highest 32% above U.S. |
| Sterling and Princeton 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% |
23.3%±2Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Woonsocket and Princeton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.9%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.9%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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+ | 59.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
19.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Woonsocket and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $158,750±$46kHighest 97% above U.S. |
$61,059±$5kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$129,063±$27k 60% above U.S. |
| Princeton and Sterling 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. |
$311,000±$15kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$498,800±$48k 50% above U.S. |
| Princeton and Sterling 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. |
$1,161±$48 18% below U.S. |
$1,699±$161Highest 20% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,633 113% above U.S. |
$3,960Lowest 27% above U.S. |
$6,757Highest 117% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.8%±46.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.7%±5.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
46%±23.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Princeton and Woonsocket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
18.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
37.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 38% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 11% above U.S. |
34 min 30% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 29.5%±6.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.4%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.3%±6.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #59 of 282 in MA | #37 of 38 in RI | #135 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Wachusett | RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket | Wachusett |
| High school in town | None in town | Woonsocket High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 15.2 |
— |
| 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.