Compare towns
Cedar Crest vs Princeton vs Pelham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Cedar Crest has the most expensive homes ($629k median).
Princeton has the oldest population (median age 46.1).
Pelham has the shortest commute (23 min average).
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 | Cedar Crest | Princeton | Pelham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,730 |
3,529Highest |
1,335Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +2.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 36±7.2Lowest 10% below MA |
46.1±7Highest 15% above MA |
45±8.4 13% above MA |
| Princeton and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 25.3%±6.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
22.2%±4.6 MA: 19.4% |
21%±4.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Cedar Crest and Princeton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.5%±4.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.9%±3.6 MA: 17.9% |
26.7%±6.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Pelham and Princeton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 61.1% MA: 47.3% |
59.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
64.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.7%±2.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
1.9%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
2%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Pelham and Princeton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $168,721±$45kHighest 62% above MA |
$158,750±$46k 53% above MA |
$113,750±$24kLowest 9% above MA |
| Cedar Crest and Princeton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $629,400±$57kHighest 12% above MA |
$520,500±$48k 7% below MA |
$447,600±$33kLowest 20% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $897±$852Lowest 49% below MA |
$1,205±$560Highest 32% below MA |
| Pelham and Princeton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,644Lowest 6% below MA |
$6,633 11% above MA |
$7,472Highest 25% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | — | 69.8%±46.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
42.7%±35.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Princeton and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.2% MA: 10% |
10.3%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 100%Highest MA: 62.5% |
94.3% MA: 62.5% |
79.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 42 minHighest 44% above MA |
37 min 25% above MA |
23 minLowest 21% below MA |
| Work from home | 22.7%±8.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
29.5%±6.8 MA: 18.6% |
32.8%±7.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Pelham 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 | — | #59 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | Wachusett | Pelham |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.