What stands out worked out from the figures below

Princeton has the highest household income ($159k).

Lancaster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Princeton	Lancaster
People
Population	3,529Lowest	8,606Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.4%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+4.8%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	46.1±7Highest 15% above MA	43.1±4.9Lowest 8% above MA
	Princeton and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	22.2%±4.6Highest MA: 19.4%	19.2%±4Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Princeton and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	20.9%±3.6Highest MA: 17.9%	19.9%±4.2Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Princeton and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	59.4%Highest MA: 47.3%	50.3%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.9%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9%	3%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9%
	Lancaster and Princeton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$158,750±$46kHighest 53% above MA	$134,833±$27kLowest 30% above MA
	Princeton and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$520,500±$48kHighest 7% below MA	$519,100±$60kLowest 8% below MA
	Princeton and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$897±$852Lowest 49% below MA	$2,338±$539Highest 33% above MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,633Lowest 11% above MA	$7,235Highest 21% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	69.8%±46.7Highest MA: 51.8%	68.3%±36.7Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Princeton and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.2%Highest MA: 10%	1.4%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	94.3%Highest MA: 62.5%	85.1%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA	1971Lowest 7 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	37 minHighest 25% above MA	32 minLowest 9% above MA
Work from home	29.5%±6.8Lowest MA: 18.6%	33.6%±9.1Highest MA: 18.6%
	Lancaster and Princeton 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	#59 of 282 in MA	#145 of 282 in MA
School district	Wachusett	Nashoba
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.