Compare towns
Princeton vs Exeter vs Harvard
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Princeton has the most homeowners (94.3%).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Harvard has the most expensive homes ($834k 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 | Princeton | Exeter | Harvard |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,529Lowest |
16,151Highest |
6,927 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.1±7Highest 19% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
44.1±4.7Lowest 13% above U.S. |
| Princeton and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.2%±4.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Princeton and Harvard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.9%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.3%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Exeter and Princeton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
62%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Harvard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $158,750±$46k 97% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$213,996±$24kHighest 165% above U.S. |
| Harvard and Princeton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $520,500±$48k 56% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$833,600±$54kHighest 151% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $897±$852Lowest 37% below U.S. |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,321±$424 7% below U.S. |
| Exeter and Harvard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,633Lowest 113% above U.S. |
$8,814 183% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.8%±46.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
72.5%±51.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Harvard and Princeton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 38% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 29.5%±6.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
44.8%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #59 of 282 in MA | #22 of 120 in NH | #12 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Wachusett | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Harvard |
| High school in town | None in town | Exeter High School | The Bromfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1Highest |
11.0Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 59 photos → | 12 photos → |
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.