Compare towns
Princeton vs Thompson vs Harvard
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Princeton has the most homeowners (94.3%).
Thompson has the most affordable homes ($292k median).
Harvard has the most expensive homes ($834k 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 | Thompson | Harvard |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,529Lowest |
9,337Highest |
6,927 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +5.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.1±7 19% above U.S. |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
44.1±4.7Lowest 13% above U.S. |
| Thompson 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% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Princeton and Harvard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.9%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.3%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Thompson 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
62%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Harvard and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $158,750±$46k 97% above U.S. |
$93,629±$18kLowest 16% above U.S. |
$213,996±$24kHighest 165% above U.S. |
| Harvard 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 56% above U.S. |
$291,900±$24kLowest 12% below U.S. |
$833,600±$54kHighest 151% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $897±$852Lowest 37% below U.S. |
$1,012±$344 28% below U.S. |
$1,321±$424Highest 7% below U.S. |
| Harvard and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,633 113% above U.S. |
$3,822Lowest 23% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.8%±46.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±18.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
72.5%±51.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Harvard and Princeton 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% |
5.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 38% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
32 minLowest 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 29.5%±6.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
44.8%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #59 of 282 in MA | #130 of 149 in CT | #12 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Wachusett | Thompson School District | Harvard |
| High school in town | None in town | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | The Bromfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.9Lowest |
11.0Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 12 photos → |
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.