Compare towns
Sterling vs Thompson 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
Thompson has the most affordable homes ($292k median).
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 | Thompson | Princeton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,183 |
9,337Highest |
3,529Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +2.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.5±1.8 32% above U.S. |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
46.1±7Lowest 19% above U.S. |
| Thompson 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 U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±4.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.9%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Thompson 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Sterling and Thompson 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. |
$93,629±$18kLowest 16% 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. |
$291,900±$24kLowest 12% below 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. |
$1,012±$344 28% below U.S. |
$897±$852Lowest 37% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,757Highest 117% above U.S. |
$3,822Lowest 23% above U.S. |
$6,633 113% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46%±23.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±18.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
69.8%±46.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Princeton and Thompson 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% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest same as U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 30% above U.S. |
32 minLowest 20% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 38% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.3%±6.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4Lowest 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 | #130 of 149 in CT | #59 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Wachusett | Thompson School District | Wachusett |
| High school in town | None in town | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.9 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.