Compare towns
Sterling vs Princeton vs Lancaster
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 highest household income ($159k).
Lancaster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).
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 | Lancaster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,183 |
3,529Lowest |
8,606Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.4% MA: +7.4% |
+4.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.5±1.8Highest 29% above MA |
46.1±7 15% above MA |
43.1±4.9Lowest 8% 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%±4.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.2%±4 MA: 19.4% |
| Princeton and Lancaster 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% |
19.9%±4.2Lowest 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% |
50.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
1.9%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
| Sterling and Lancaster 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 |
$134,833±$27k 30% above MA |
| Princeton and Lancaster 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 |
$520,500±$48kHighest 7% below MA |
$519,100±$60k 8% below MA |
| Princeton and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,699±$161 4% below MA |
$897±$852Lowest 49% below MA |
$2,338±$539Highest 33% above MA |
| Lancaster and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,757 13% above MA |
$6,633Lowest 11% above MA |
$7,235Highest 21% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46%±23.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
69.8%±46.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
68.3%±36.7 MA: 51.8% |
| Princeton and Lancaster 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% MA: 10% |
1.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3% MA: 62.5% |
94.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
85.1%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 |
32 minLowest 9% above MA |
| Work from home | 18.3%±6.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
29.5%±6.8 MA: 18.6% |
33.6%±9.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Lancaster and Princeton 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 | #145 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Wachusett | Wachusett | Nashoba |
| 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.