Compare towns
Sterling vs Princeton vs Holden
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 oldest population (median age 51.5).
Princeton has the most people working from home (29.5%).
Holden has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.8%).
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 | Princeton | Holden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,183 |
3,529Lowest |
20,064Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.4% MA: +7.4% |
+14.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.5±1.8Highest 29% above MA |
46.1±7 15% above MA |
41.5±1.8Lowest 4% above MA |
| 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 MA: 19.4% |
22.2%±4.6 MA: 19.4% |
24.9%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Holden and Princeton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.9%±4Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.9%±3.6 MA: 17.9% |
18.7%±1.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| 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%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
59.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
58.2% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
1.9%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Holden 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 |
$158,750±$46kHighest 53% above MA |
$141,923±$11k 37% above MA |
| Princeton and Holden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $498,800±$48k 11% below MA |
$520,500±$48kHighest 7% below MA |
$470,700±$13kLowest 16% below MA |
| 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 4% below MA |
$897±$852Lowest 49% below MA |
$1,648±$214 6% below MA |
| Sterling and Holden 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 |
$6,633 11% above MA |
$6,359Lowest 6% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46%±23.1 MA: 51.8% |
69.8%±46.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
42.4%±7.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| 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 MA: 10% |
4.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3% MA: 62.5% |
94.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
85.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
1971Lowest 7 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 18% above MA |
37 minHighest 25% above MA |
27 minLowest 6% below MA |
| Work from home | 18.3%±6.2 MA: 18.6% |
29.5%±6.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
18.2%±3.1Lowest 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 | #59 of 282 in MA | #57 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Wachusett | Wachusett | Wachusett |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Wachusett Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 13.0 |
| 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.