Compare towns
Princeton vs Worcester vs Dunstable
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 people working from home (29.5%).
Worcester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.1%).
Dunstable has the highest household income ($209k).
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 | Worcester | Dunstable |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,529 |
207,055Highest |
3,408Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+14.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.1±7Highest 15% above MA |
33.9±0.5Lowest 15% below MA |
41.5±2.4 4% above MA |
| Princeton and Dunstable 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% |
19.6%±0.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.4%±4.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Dunstable 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% |
13.3%±0.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
15%±2.6 MA: 17.9% |
| Princeton and Dunstable 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% |
35.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
62.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
14.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
7.1%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $158,750±$46k 53% above MA |
$70,102±$2kLowest 33% below MA |
$208,512±$23kHighest 101% above MA |
| Dunstable 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 |
$374,400±$7kLowest 33% below MA |
$674,000±$30kHighest 20% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $897±$852Lowest 49% below MA |
$1,487±$38Highest 16% below MA |
$1,325±$637 25% below MA |
| Worcester and Dunstable 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 |
$4,733Lowest 21% below MA |
$9,020Highest 51% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.8%±46.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
54.2%±2.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
60%±77.1 MA: 51.8% |
| Princeton and Dunstable are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.2% MA: 10% |
19.6%Highest MA: 10% |
0.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.3% MA: 62.5% |
42.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
96.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
1951Lowest 13 yrs older than MA |
1987Highest 23 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 25% above MA |
24 minLowest 17% below MA |
34 min 18% above MA |
| Work from home | 29.5%±6.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
11.5%±1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20%±3.9 MA: 18.6% |
| Princeton and Dunstable 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 | #266 of 282 in MA | #4 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Wachusett | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | Groton-Dunstable |
| High school in town | None in town | South High Community | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.6 |
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| 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.