Compare towns
Princeton vs Townsend vs Harvard
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 most homeowners (94.3%).
Townsend has the most affordable homes ($433k median).
Harvard has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.1%).
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 | Townsend | Harvard |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,529Lowest |
9,100Highest |
6,927 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4% MA: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+5.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.1±7Highest 15% above MA |
40.9±3.3Lowest about the MA average |
44.1±4.7 10% above MA |
| Princeton and Harvard 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% |
21%±3.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Princeton and Harvard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.9%±3.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.1%±2.1 MA: 17.9% |
16.3%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Princeton and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.4% MA: 47.3% |
35.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
62%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
| Townsend and Harvard 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 53% above MA |
$121,528±$23kLowest 17% above MA |
$213,996±$24kHighest 106% above MA |
| 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 7% below MA |
$433,200±$22kLowest 23% below MA |
$833,600±$54kHighest 48% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $897±$852Lowest 49% below MA |
$1,469±$313Highest 17% below MA |
$1,321±$424 25% below MA |
| Townsend and Harvard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,633 11% above MA |
$6,031Lowest about the MA average |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.8%±46.7 MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±16.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
72.5%±51.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
| 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 MA: 10% |
8.9%Highest MA: 10% |
4.5% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
82%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1975Lowest 11 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 min 25% above MA |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
32 minLowest 9% above MA |
| Work from home | 29.5%±6.8 MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
44.8%±6.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #59 of 282 in MA | #136 of 282 in MA | #12 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Wachusett | North Middlesex | Harvard |
| High school in town | None in town | North Middlesex Regional | The Bromfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.1Highest |
11.0Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 12 photos → |
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.