Compare towns
Sterling vs Gorham vs Princeton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sterling has the oldest population (median age 51.5).
Gorham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.9%).
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 | Gorham | Princeton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,183 |
18,300Highest |
3,529Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.5±1.8Highest 32% above U.S. |
39.4±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
46.1±7 19% 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 | 18.6%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±4.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Princeton and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.9%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.9%±3.6 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+ | 48.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
13.1%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $129,063±$27k 60% above U.S. |
$112,312±$6kLowest 39% above U.S. |
$158,750±$46kHighest 97% 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 | $498,800±$48k 50% above U.S. |
$460,900±$26kLowest 39% above U.S. |
$520,500±$48kHighest 56% 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 | $1,699±$161Highest 20% above U.S. |
$1,680±$355 19% above U.S. |
$897±$852Lowest 37% below U.S. |
| Sterling and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,757Highest 117% above U.S. |
$4,825Lowest 55% above U.S. |
$6,633 113% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46%±23.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.9%±8.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
69.8%±46.7Highest 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 | 6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 30% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
37 minHighest 38% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.3%±6.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
29.5%±6.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Princeton and Gorham 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 | #24 of 133 in ME | #59 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Wachusett | Gorham Public Schools | Wachusett |
| High school in town | None in town | Gorham High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.9 |
— |
| 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.