Compare towns
Sterling vs Bourne 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).
Bourne has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.5%).
Princeton has the most people working from home (29.5%).
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 | Sterling | Bourne | Princeton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,183 |
20,323Highest |
3,529Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.5±1.8 29% above MA |
52±1.8Highest 30% above MA |
46.1±7Lowest 15% above MA |
| Bourne and Sterling 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% |
14.7%±2.3Lowest 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% |
29.8%±3.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.9%±3.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bourne 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% MA: 47.3% |
46%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
59.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
6.6%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
1.9%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Bourne and Sterling 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 |
$91,058±$7kLowest 12% below 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 |
$575,600±$28kHighest about the MA average |
$520,500±$48k 7% below MA |
| Bourne and Princeton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,699±$161Highest 4% below MA |
$1,379±$300 22% below MA |
$897±$852Lowest 49% below MA |
| Sterling and Bourne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,757Highest 13% above MA |
$4,485Lowest 25% below MA |
$6,633 11% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46%±23.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
62.8%±5.5 MA: 51.8% |
69.8%±46.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Princeton and Bourne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6% MA: 10% |
6.2%Highest MA: 10% |
4.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3% MA: 62.5% |
75.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
94.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
1975Lowest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1975Lowest 11 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 18% above MA |
26 minLowest 11% below MA |
37 minHighest 25% above MA |
| Work from home | 18.3%±6.2 MA: 18.6% |
14.9%±3.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
29.5%±6.8Highest 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 | #135 of 282 in MA | #206 of 282 in MA | #59 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Wachusett | Bourne · Upper Cape Cod Regional Vocational Technical | Wachusett |
| High school in town | None in town | Upper Cape Cod Vocational Technical | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.