Compare towns
Paxton vs Upton vs Ayer 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 the shortest commute (31 min average).
Upton has the most expensive homes ($577k median).
Ayer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
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 | Upton | Ayer | Princeton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,002 |
8,189 |
8,645Highest |
3,529Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1% MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±3.3 4% above MA |
46.4±4.8Highest 16% above MA |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average |
46.1±7 15% above MA |
| Upton and Princeton 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% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.3%±3.9 MA: 19.4% |
22.2%±4.6 MA: 19.4% |
| Upton 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% |
20.7%±4.9 MA: 17.9% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.9%±3.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Princeton and Upton 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% |
53.5% MA: 47.3% |
42.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
59.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15.9%±1.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
1.9%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $134,083±$8k 29% above MA |
$155,508±$33k 50% above MA |
$101,875±$15kLowest about the MA average |
$158,750±$46kHighest 53% above MA |
| Princeton and Upton 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 |
$576,700±$41kHighest about the MA average |
$463,800±$29kLowest 17% below MA |
$520,500±$48k 7% below MA |
| Upton and Princeton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,386±$88 21% below MA |
$948±$599 46% below MA |
$1,415±$180Highest 20% below MA |
$897±$852Lowest 49% below MA |
| Ayer 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 |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$5,057Lowest 16% below MA |
$6,633 11% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.2%±15.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±14.2 MA: 51.8% |
69.8%±46.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Princeton and Upton 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% |
3.2% MA: 10% |
10.7%Highest MA: 10% |
4.2% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.8% MA: 62.5% |
86.7% MA: 62.5% |
69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
94.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 5% above MA |
35 min 22% above MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
37 minHighest 25% above MA |
| Work from home | 25.5%±5.1 MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±5.9Lowest 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 | #46 of 282 in MA | #113 of 282 in MA | #59 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Wachusett | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Ayer Shirley School District | Wachusett |
| High school in town | None in town | Blackstone Valley | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.2Lowest |
11.5Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.