Compare towns
Princeton vs Springfield vs Paxton
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 highest household income ($159k).
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($245k median).
Paxton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.1%).
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.
| Measure | Princeton | Springfield | Paxton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,529Lowest |
154,749Highest |
5,002 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4% MA: +7.4% |
+1.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.1±7Highest 15% above MA |
33.7±0.5Lowest 16% below MA |
41.8±3.3 4% above MA |
| Princeton and Paxton 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% |
24.2%±0.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
17.4%±3.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Springfield and Princeton 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% |
13.2%±0.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.4%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
| Princeton and Paxton 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% |
20.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
54.7% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
7.5%±0.5 MA: 7.9% |
15.9%±1.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $158,750±$46kHighest 53% above MA |
$52,656±$2kLowest 49% below MA |
$134,083±$8k 29% above MA |
| Princeton and Paxton 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 |
$245,000±$4kLowest 56% below MA |
$472,300±$29k 16% below MA |
| Princeton and Paxton 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 |
$1,144±$55 35% below MA |
$1,386±$88Highest 21% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,633 11% above MA |
$3,695Lowest 38% below MA |
$7,129Highest 19% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.8%±46.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±3.1 MA: 51.8% |
26.2%±15.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Princeton and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.2% MA: 10% |
25.8%Highest MA: 10% |
1.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
49.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
91.8% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1952Lowest 12 yrs older than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 25% above MA |
20 minLowest 31% below MA |
31 min 5% above MA |
| Work from home | 29.5%±6.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
8.4%±0.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
25.5%±5.1 MA: 18.6% |
| Princeton and Paxton 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 | #276 of 282 in MA | #219 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Wachusett | Springfield | Wachusett |
| High school in town | None in town | Springfield Central High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.2 |
— |
| 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.