Compare towns
Princeton vs Windham vs Hubbardston
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 people working from home (29.5%).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.4%).
Hubbardston has the most affordable homes ($372k 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 | Windham | Hubbardston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,529Lowest |
19,188Highest |
4,371 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.1±7 19% above U.S. |
41.8±1.8Lowest 7% above U.S. |
46.8±9.1Highest 20% above U.S. |
| Hubbardston 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% |
19.2%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
17.8%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Princeton and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.9%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.5%±4.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Princeton and Hubbardston 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% |
44.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
33.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hubbardston and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $158,750±$46kHighest 97% above U.S. |
$107,934±$14kLowest 34% above U.S. |
$123,500±$24k 53% above U.S. |
| Princeton and Hubbardston 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. |
$388,900±$22k 17% above U.S. |
$371,600±$18kLowest 12% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $897±$852Lowest 37% below U.S. |
$1,232±$332Highest 13% below U.S. |
$953±$206 33% below U.S. |
| Windham and Hubbardston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,633Highest 113% above U.S. |
$3,938Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$4,716 51% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.8%±46.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
32.7%±14.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.4%±67.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Princeton and Hubbardston 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% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 38% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
36 min 36% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 29.5%±6.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Princeton and Windham 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 | #95 of 133 in ME | #128 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Wachusett | RSU 14 | Quabbin |
| High school in town | None in town | Windham High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.