What stands out worked out from the figures below

Princeton has the most people working from home (9.6%).

Somerville has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.5%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Princeton	Somerville
People
Population	866Highest	837Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-10.5%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+9.5%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	39.1±9.4Highest 13% below ME	33.5±11.3Lowest 25% below ME
	Princeton and Somerville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	28.2%±6Lowest ME: 18.1%	28.8%±7Highest ME: 18.1%
	Somerville and Princeton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.7%±3.4Highest ME: 22.4%	13.7%±2.9Lowest ME: 22.4%
	Princeton and Somerville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	24.5%Lowest ME: 36.2%	25.7%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.3%±1.5Highest ME: 5.8%	1.8%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Princeton and Somerville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$56,406±$26kLowest 25% below ME	$71,250±$15kHighest 5% below ME
	Somerville and Princeton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$120,800±$82kLowest 59% below ME	$218,100±$41kHighest 26% below ME
	Somerville and Princeton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$675±$351Lowest 41% below ME	$1,583±$265Highest 39% above ME
Property taxmedian, yearly	$1,573Lowest 48% below ME	$2,505Highest 17% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	57.7%±23.1Lowest ME: 48.4%	65.7%±58.5Highest ME: 48.4%
	Somerville and Princeton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	15.3%Lowest ME: 10.7%	17%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	74.3%Lowest ME: 74.3%	85.8%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1990Highest 13 yrs newer than ME	1989Lowest 12 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	22 minLowest 13% below ME	27 minHighest 9% above ME
Work from home	9.6%±3.5Highest ME: 15.9%	3.9%±2.3Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Princeton and Somerville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Princeton Public Schools	RSU 12
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

ME 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.