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Harvard vs Princeton vs Georgetown

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Harvard has the most people working from home (44.8%).
Princeton has the most affordable homes ($521k median).
Georgetown has the most renters (16% rent).

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.

MeasureHarvardPrincetonGeorgetown
People
Population
6,927
3,529Lowest
8,474Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.1%Highest
MA: +7.4%
+2.4%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+3.5%
MA: +7.4%
Median age
44.1±4.7
10% above MA
46.1±7Highest
15% above MA
42.8±3.5Lowest
7% above MA
Princeton and Harvard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
21.1%±4.5Lowest
MA: 19.4%
22.2%±4.6
MA: 19.4%
23.5%±3.5Highest
MA: 19.4%
Georgetown and Princeton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
16.3%±2.8Lowest
MA: 17.9%
20.9%±3.6Highest
MA: 17.9%
18.5%±2.9
MA: 17.9%
Princeton and Georgetown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
62%Highest
MA: 47.3%
59.4%
MA: 47.3%
56.1%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.8%±1.5Highest
MA: 7.9%
1.9%±1.2Lowest
MA: 7.9%
3.7%±1.6
MA: 7.9%
Harvard and Georgetown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$213,996±$24kHighest
106% above MA
$158,750±$46k
53% above MA
$151,595±$23kLowest
46% above MA
Harvard and Princeton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$833,600±$54kHighest
48% above MA
$520,500±$48kLowest
7% below MA
$651,200±$23k
16% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,321±$424
25% below MA
$897±$852Lowest
49% below MA
$2,223±$506Highest
26% above MA
Georgetown and Harvard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$10,000+Highest
at least 67% above MA
$6,633Lowest
11% above MA
$7,272
21% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
72.5%±51.5Highest
MA: 51.8%
69.8%±46.7
MA: 51.8%
53.7%±22.5Lowest
MA: 51.8%
Harvard and Princeton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
4.5%Highest
MA: 10%
4.2%
MA: 10%
3.8%Lowest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
89.4%
MA: 62.5%
94.3%Highest
MA: 62.5%
84%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1975Highest
11 yrs newer than MA
1975Highest
11 yrs newer than MA
1974Lowest
10 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
32 minLowest
9% above MA
37 minHighest
25% above MA
34 min
15% above MA
Work from home
44.8%±6.1Highest
MA: 18.6%
29.5%±6.8
MA: 18.6%
20.2%±3.8Lowest
MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #12 of 282 in MA #59 of 282 in MA #140 of 282 in MA
School district Harvard Wachusett Georgetown
High school in town The Bromfield High School None in town Georgetown High School
Students per teacherat that high school
11.0Highest
—
9.3Lowest
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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.