What stands out worked out from the figures below

Princeton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.4%).

Pepperell has the most renters (15.7% rent).

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	Pepperell
People
Population	3,529Lowest	11,663Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.4%Highest MA: +7.4%	+0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	46.1±7Highest 15% above MA	42.4±3.3Lowest 6% above MA
	Princeton and Pepperell 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%	20.1%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Princeton and Pepperell 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%	18.2%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Princeton and Pepperell 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%	43.8%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.9%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9%	5.7%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$158,750±$46kHighest 53% above MA	$124,073±$12kLowest 19% above MA
	Princeton and Pepperell 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	$482,100±$14kLowest 14% below MA
	Princeton and Pepperell 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	$1,295±$238Highest 27% below MA
	Pepperell and Princeton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,633Lowest 11% above MA	$6,698Highest 12% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	69.8%±46.7Highest MA: 51.8%	45.1%±16.1Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Princeton and Pepperell 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%	8%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	94.3%Highest MA: 62.5%	84.3%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1975Lowest 11 yrs newer than MA	1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	37 minHighest 25% above MA	34 minLowest 16% above MA
Work from home	29.5%±6.8Highest MA: 18.6%	18.1%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#59 of 282 in MA	#153 of 282 in MA
School district	Wachusett	North Middlesex
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.