Compare towns
Harvard vs Princeton vs Sutton
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 expensive homes ($834k median).
Princeton has the most kids (22.2% under 18).
Sutton has the shortest commute (30 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 | Harvard | Princeton | Sutton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,927 |
3,529Lowest |
9,452Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.1±4.7Lowest 10% above MA |
46.1±7Highest 15% above MA |
44.3±2.5 11% above MA |
| Princeton and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.1%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
22.2%±4.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Princeton and Harvard 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% |
18.8%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Princeton and Sutton 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% |
52.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
1.9%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Sutton and Harvard 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 |
$147,125±$25kLowest 42% 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 |
$523,100±$47k 7% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,321±$424Highest 25% below MA |
$897±$852Lowest 49% below MA |
$1,190±$401 32% below MA |
| Harvard and Sutton 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 |
$6,763 13% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.5%±51.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
69.8%±46.7 MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4Lowest 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% MA: 10% |
4.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
94.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
89.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1975Lowest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 9% above MA |
37 minHighest 25% above MA |
30 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 44.8%±6.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
29.5%±6.8 MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #12 of 282 in MA | #59 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Harvard | Wachusett | Sutton |
| High school in town | The Bromfield High School | None in town | Sutton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.0Lowest |
— | 12.6Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 12 photos → | 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.