Compare towns
Sterling vs Gray 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).
Gray has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.5%).
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 | Gray | Princeton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,183 |
8,429Highest |
3,529Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.5±1.8Highest 32% above U.S. |
43.4±4.5Lowest 12% above U.S. |
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% |
19%±4 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±4.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Princeton and Gray 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% |
19.3%±4Lowest 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% |
44.8%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% |
5.4%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Gray 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 60% above U.S. |
$95,236±$8kLowest 18% 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. |
$363,700±$20kLowest 9% 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. |
$1,371±$89 about the U.S. average |
$897±$852Lowest 37% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,757Highest 117% above U.S. |
$3,683Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$6,633 113% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46%±23.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±24 U.S.: 51.1% |
69.8%±46.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Princeton and Gray 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% |
3.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 30% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 8% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 38% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.3%±6.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.5%±6.8Highest 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 | #135 of 282 in MA | #10 of 133 in ME | #59 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Wachusett | RSU 15/MSAD 15 · Fiddlehead School of Arts and Sciences | Wachusett |
| High school in town | None in town | Gray-New Gloucester High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.5 |
— |
| 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.