Compare towns
Paxton vs Putnam vs Princeton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Paxton has the youngest population (median age 41.8).
Putnam has the most affordable homes ($269k median).
Princeton has the most kids (22.2% under 18).
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 | Putnam | Princeton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,002 |
9,292Highest |
3,529Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +2.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±3.3Lowest 7% above U.S. |
43.7±3 12% above U.S. |
46.1±7Highest 19% above U.S. |
| Princeton and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.4%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±4.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Princeton and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.4%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.9%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Princeton and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15.9%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $134,083±$8k 66% above U.S. |
$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$158,750±$46kHighest 97% above U.S. |
| 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 42% above U.S. |
$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$520,500±$48kHighest 56% above U.S. |
| 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 about the U.S. average |
$1,149±$44 19% below U.S. |
$897±$852Lowest 37% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,129Highest 129% above U.S. |
$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S. |
$6,633 113% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.2%±15.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
69.8%±46.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Princeton and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
37 minHighest 38% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 25.5%±5.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.5%±6.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #128 of 149 in CT | #59 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Wachusett | Putnam School District | Wachusett |
| High school in town | None in town | Putnam High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.5 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.