What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Shirley has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.1%).

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	Shirley
People
Population	3,529Lowest	6,976Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.4%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+3.1%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	46.1±7Highest 15% above MA	44.3±3.4Lowest 11% above MA
	Princeton and Shirley 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%	16.4%±4.2Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Princeton and Shirley 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%	19.8%±5.1Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Princeton and Shirley 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%	36.7%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.9%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9%	5.7%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$158,750±$46kHighest 53% above MA	$122,365±$16kLowest 18% above MA
	Princeton and Shirley 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	$427,600±$36kLowest 24% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$897±$852Lowest 49% below MA	$1,481±$421Highest 16% below MA
	Shirley 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	$5,156Lowest 14% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	69.8%±46.7Highest MA: 51.8%	57.1%±21.8Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Princeton and Shirley 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%	9.9%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	94.3%Highest MA: 62.5%	77.4%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1975Lowest 11 yrs newer than MA	1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	37 minLowest 25% above MA	40 minHighest 39% above MA
Work from home	29.5%±6.8Highest MA: 18.6%	21%±7.8Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Princeton and Shirley 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	#239 of 282 in MA
School district	Wachusett	Ayer Shirley School District
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.