What stands out worked out from the figures below

Princeton has the most people working from home (29.5%).

Marion has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9%).

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	Marion
People
Population	3,529Lowest	5,310Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.4%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+9%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	46.1±7Lowest 15% above MA	53.8±4Highest 35% above MA
	Marion and Princeton 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%	16.7%±4.7Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Princeton and Marion are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	20.9%±3.6Lowest MA: 17.9%	27.3%±5.7Highest MA: 17.9%
	Marion 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%Highest MA: 47.3%	46.7%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.9%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9%	7.7%±4.3Highest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$158,750±$46kHighest 53% above MA	$143,092±$30kLowest 38% above MA
	Princeton and Marion are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$520,500±$48kLowest 7% below MA	$653,500±$47kHighest 16% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$897±$852Lowest 49% below MA	$1,176±$516Highest 33% below MA
	Marion and Princeton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,633Highest 11% above MA	$5,766Lowest 4% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	69.8%±46.7Lowest MA: 51.8%	75.8%±26.8Highest MA: 51.8%
	Marion 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 MA: 10%	9%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	94.3%Highest MA: 62.5%	90.8%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA	1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	37 minHighest 25% above MA	34 minLowest 15% above MA
Work from home	29.5%±6.8Highest MA: 18.6%	20.1%±8.3Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Princeton and Marion 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	#141 of 282 in MA
School district	Wachusett	Marion
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.