What stands out worked out from the figures below

Centerville has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).

Princetown has the most expensive homes ($316k median).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Centerville	Princetown
People
Population	700Lowest	1,860Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+13%Highest NY: +4.2%	-4.3%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	26.2±7.8Lowest 34% below NY	47.9±4.7Highest 20% above NY
Kids under 18	34.3%±0.8Highest NY: 20.5%	15.7%±4.2Lowest NY: 20.5%
Age 65+	12.4%±4.4Lowest NY: 17.9%	23.6%±3.1Highest NY: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	16.8%Lowest NY: 40.2%	29%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.3%±1.1Lowest NY: 7%	2.8%±2.3Highest NY: 7%
	Princetown and Centerville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$83,000±$21kLowest 3% below NY	$98,438±$21kHighest 14% above NY
	Princetown and Centerville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$119,800±$49kLowest 72% below NY	$315,700±$39kHighest 26% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$556±$489Lowest 66% below NY	$1,354±$91Highest 16% below NY
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,981Lowest 55% below NY	$5,750Highest 13% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	23.1%±52.6Lowest NY: 52.1%	67.6%±58.5Highest NY: 52.1%
	Princetown and Centerville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	23.7%Highest NY: 14%	4.2%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	80.1%Lowest NY: 54.3%	91.7%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1987Highest 28 yrs newer than NY	1971Lowest 12 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minLowest 10% below NY	33 minHighest about the NY average
Work from home	9.4%±6.1Highest NY: 14.9%	6.2%±4Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Centerville and Princetown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

NY 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.