Compare towns
Sterling vs Berlin vs Princeton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sterling has the most affordable homes ($499k median).
Berlin has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.2%).
Princeton has the highest household income ($159k).
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 | Sterling | Berlin | Princeton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,183Highest |
3,378Lowest |
3,529 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+10.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.5±1.8Highest 29% above MA |
49.7±2.8 24% above MA |
46.1±7Lowest 15% above MA |
| Sterling and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±4.1 MA: 19.4% |
13.4%±4.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.2%±4.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Princeton and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.9%±4 MA: 17.9% |
30.1%±5.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.9%±3.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Berlin and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
48.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
59.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
1.9%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Sterling and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $129,063±$27k 24% above MA |
$121,336±$12kLowest 17% above MA |
$158,750±$46kHighest 53% 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 | $498,800±$48kLowest 11% below MA |
$616,600±$55kHighest 10% above MA |
$520,500±$48k 7% below MA |
| Berlin and Princeton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,699±$161 4% below MA |
$2,420±$933Highest 37% above MA |
$897±$852Lowest 49% below MA |
| Berlin and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,757 13% above MA |
$7,116Highest 19% above MA |
$6,633Lowest 11% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46%±23.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.6%±19.7 MA: 51.8% |
69.8%±46.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Princeton and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6%Highest MA: 10% |
5% MA: 10% |
4.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3% MA: 62.5% |
77.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
94.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 16 yrs newer than MA |
1992Highest 28 yrs newer than MA |
1975Lowest 11 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 18% above MA |
34 minLowest 17% above MA |
37 minHighest 25% above MA |
| Work from home | 18.3%±6.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
29.1%±6.8 MA: 18.6% |
29.5%±6.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Princeton and Berlin 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 | #135 of 282 in MA | #61 of 282 in MA | #59 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Wachusett | Berlin-Boylston | 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.