Compare towns
Princeton vs Thompson vs Paxton
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 kids (22.2% under 18).
Thompson has the most affordable homes ($292k median).
Paxton has the youngest population (median age 41.8).
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 | Paxton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,529Lowest |
9,337Highest |
5,002 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +4.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.1±7 19% above U.S. |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
41.8±3.3Lowest 7% 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% |
17.4%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Princeton and Paxton 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% |
18.4%±3.4Lowest 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7% 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% |
15.9%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $158,750±$46kHighest 97% above U.S. |
$93,629±$18kLowest 16% above U.S. |
$134,083±$8k 66% above U.S. |
| 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 56% above U.S. |
$291,900±$24kLowest 12% below U.S. |
$472,300±$29k 42% above U.S. |
| 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 37% below U.S. |
$1,012±$344 28% below U.S. |
$1,386±$88Highest about the U.S. average |
| Paxton 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. |
$7,129Highest 129% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.8%±46.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±18.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
26.2%±15.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Princeton and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 38% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
31 minLowest 16% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 29.5%±6.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±5.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #130 of 149 in CT | #219 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Wachusett | Thompson School District | Wachusett |
| High school in town | None in town | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.9 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.