Compare towns
Princeton vs Needham vs Westminster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Princeton has the most homeowners (94.3%).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Westminster has the most affordable homes ($422k 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 | Needham | Westminster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,529Lowest |
32,459Highest |
8,374 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1% MA: +7.4% |
+12.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.1±7 15% above MA |
43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA |
48.3±4.6Highest 21% above MA |
| Westminster and Princeton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.2%±4.6 MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.3%±4.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Needham and Princeton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.9%±3.6 MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
26%±5.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Westminster 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% MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
45.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
1.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $158,750±$46k 53% above MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$106,331±$22kLowest about the MA average |
| Needham 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 7% below MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$422,000±$36kLowest 25% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $897±$852Lowest 49% below MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,843±$268 5% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,633 11% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$4,973Lowest 17% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.8%±46.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
60%±27.3 MA: 51.8% |
| Princeton and Westminster 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% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
2.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
87.6% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 25% above MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
27 minLowest 7% below MA |
| Work from home | 29.5%±6.8 MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.5%±4.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Needham 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 | #19 of 282 in MA | #112 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Wachusett | — | Ashburnham-Westminster |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Oakmont Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 13.6 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.