What stands out worked out from the figures below

Princeton has the most affordable homes ($521k median).

Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k 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.

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

Measure	Princeton	Rye
People
Population	3,529Lowest	5,611Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+4.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	46.1±7Lowest 19% above U.S.	55.1±3Highest 42% above U.S.
	Rye 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 U.S.: 22%	18.2%±4Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Princeton and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	20.9%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	31.7%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	59.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	61.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.9%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	2.2%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Rye 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 97% above U.S.	$140,655±$39kLowest 74% above U.S.
	Princeton and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$520,500±$48kLowest 56% above U.S.	$1,028,100±$89kHighest 209% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$897±$852Lowest 37% below U.S.	$1,781±$156Highest 26% above U.S.
	Rye and Princeton 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.	$7,519Highest 141% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	69.8%±46.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%	44.3%±16.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Princeton and Rye 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%	6.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	85.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S.	1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	37 minHighest 38% above U.S.	29 minLowest 9% above U.S.
Work from home	29.5%±6.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	30.9%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Rye 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	#2 of 120 in NH
School district	Wachusett	Rye School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

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.