Compare towns
Sterling vs Marion 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 renters (13.7% rent).
Marion has grown the fastest since 2010 (+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 | Marion | Princeton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,183Highest |
5,310 |
3,529Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.5±1.8 29% above MA |
53.8±4Highest 35% above MA |
46.1±7Lowest 15% above MA |
| Marion 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% |
16.7%±4.7Lowest 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% |
27.3%±5.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.9%±3.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Marion 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% |
46.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
59.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
7.7%±4.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
1.9%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Marion 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±$27kLowest 24% above MA |
$143,092±$30k 38% above MA |
$158,750±$46kHighest 53% above MA |
| Princeton and Marion 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 |
$653,500±$47kHighest 16% above MA |
$520,500±$48k 7% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,699±$161Highest 4% below MA |
$1,176±$516 33% below MA |
$897±$852Lowest 49% below MA |
| Sterling and Marion 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 |
$5,766Lowest 4% below MA |
$6,633 11% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46%±23.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
75.8%±26.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
69.8%±46.7 MA: 51.8% |
| Marion and Princeton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6% MA: 10% |
9%Highest MA: 10% |
4.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
90.8% MA: 62.5% |
94.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA |
1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 18% above MA |
34 minLowest 15% above MA |
37 minHighest 25% above MA |
| Work from home | 18.3%±6.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20.1%±8.3 MA: 18.6% |
29.5%±6.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Princeton and Marion 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 | #141 of 282 in MA | #59 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Wachusett | Marion | 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.