Compare towns
Paxton vs Sutton vs Ware vs Princeton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sutton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.4%).
Ware has the most affordable homes ($253k median).
Princeton has the most people working from home (29.5%).
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 | Sutton | Ware | Princeton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,002 |
9,452Highest |
6,369 |
3,529Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1% MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±3.3 4% above MA |
44.3±2.5 11% above MA |
39.8±6Lowest about the MA average |
46.1±7Highest 15% 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 | 17.4%±3.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
23.3%±4.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
22.2%±4.6 MA: 19.4% |
| Ware and Princeton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.4%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
17.4%±3.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.9%±3.6Highest 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+ | 54.7% MA: 47.3% |
52.8% MA: 47.3% |
15.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
59.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15.9%±1.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.9 MA: 7.9% |
1.9%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $134,083±$8k 29% above MA |
$147,125±$25k 42% above MA |
$45,158±$11kLowest 57% below MA |
$158,750±$46kHighest 53% above MA |
| Princeton and Sutton 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 |
$523,100±$47kHighest 7% below MA |
$253,400±$31kLowest 55% below MA |
$520,500±$48k 7% below MA |
| Sutton and Princeton 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 |
$1,190±$401 32% below MA |
$1,039±$104 41% below MA |
$897±$852Lowest 49% below MA |
| Paxton and Sutton 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 |
$6,763 13% above MA |
$3,408Lowest 43% below MA |
$6,633 11% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.2%±15.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
64.5%±17.3 MA: 51.8% |
69.8%±46.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Princeton and Ware 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% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
14.1%Highest MA: 10% |
4.2% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.8% MA: 62.5% |
89.7% MA: 62.5% |
57.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
94.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 5% above MA |
30 min about the MA average |
27 minLowest 9% below MA |
37 minHighest 25% above MA |
| Work from home | 25.5%±5.1 MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
16.6%±5Lowest 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 | #105 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA | #59 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Wachusett | Sutton | — | Wachusett |
| High school in town | None in town | Sutton High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.6 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.