Compare towns
Paxton vs Athol vs Princeton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Paxton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.1%).
Athol has the most affordable homes ($268k median).
Princeton has the highest household income ($159k).
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 | Paxton | Athol | Princeton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,002 |
12,011Highest |
3,529Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1% MA: +7.4% |
+2.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±3.3 4% above MA |
41.3±1.9Lowest 3% above MA |
46.1±7Highest 15% above MA |
| Princeton and Paxton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.4%±3.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±3.2 MA: 19.4% |
22.2%±4.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Princeton and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.4%±3.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.3%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
20.9%±3.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Princeton and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.7% MA: 47.3% |
20.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
59.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15.9%±1.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.6%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
1.9%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $134,083±$8k 29% above MA |
$69,316±$5kLowest 33% below MA |
$158,750±$46kHighest 53% above MA |
| Princeton and Paxton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $472,300±$29k 16% below MA |
$268,100±$13kLowest 52% below MA |
$520,500±$48kHighest 7% below MA |
| Princeton and Paxton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,386±$88Highest 21% below MA |
$1,150±$182 35% below MA |
$897±$852Lowest 49% below MA |
| Paxton and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,129Highest 19% above MA |
$3,403Lowest 43% below MA |
$6,633 11% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.2%±15.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.5%±17.2 MA: 51.8% |
69.8%±46.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Princeton and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 1.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
16.3%Highest MA: 10% |
4.2% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.8% MA: 62.5% |
72.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
94.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1953Lowest 11 yrs older than MA |
1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 5% above MA |
27 minLowest 8% below MA |
37 minHighest 25% above MA |
| Work from home | 25.5%±5.1 MA: 18.6% |
10.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
29.5%±6.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Princeton and Paxton 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 | #219 of 282 in MA | #256 of 282 in MA | #59 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Wachusett | Athol-Royalston | Wachusett |
| High school in town | None in town | Athol High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.6 |
— |
| 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.