Compare towns
Paxton vs Princeton vs Hamilton
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%).
Princeton has the highest household income ($159k).
Hamilton has the most expensive homes ($720k 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.
| Measure | Paxton | Princeton | Hamilton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,002 |
3,529Lowest |
7,600Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.4% MA: +7.4% |
-2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±3.3Lowest 4% above MA |
46.1±7Highest 15% above MA |
43.5±2.1 9% above MA |
| Princeton and Hamilton 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% |
22.2%±4.6 MA: 19.4% |
24%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Hamilton and Princeton 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% |
20.9%±3.6 MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±3.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Hamilton and Princeton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
59.4% MA: 47.3% |
68.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15.9%±1.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
1.9%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.7%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $134,083±$8k 29% above MA |
$158,750±$46kHighest 53% above MA |
$129,833±$14kLowest 25% 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±$29kLowest 16% below MA |
$520,500±$48k 7% below MA |
$720,000±$36kHighest 28% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,386±$88 21% below MA |
$897±$852Lowest 49% below MA |
$1,794±$394Highest about the MA average |
| Hamilton and Paxton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,129 19% above MA |
$6,633Lowest 11% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.2%±15.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
69.8%±46.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
65.8%±23.6 MA: 51.8% |
| Princeton and Hamilton 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% |
4.2% MA: 10% |
7.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.8% MA: 62.5% |
94.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
84.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 5% above MA |
37 minHighest 25% above MA |
32 min 11% above MA |
| Work from home | 25.5%±5.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
29.5%±6.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
26.3%±5.1 MA: 18.6% |
| Princeton and Hamilton 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 | #59 of 282 in MA | #36 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Wachusett | Wachusett | Hamilton-Wenham |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Hamilton-Wenham Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.8 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.