Compare towns
Topsfield vs Putnam vs Princeton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Topsfield has the most expensive homes ($837k median).
Putnam has the most affordable homes ($269k median).
Princeton has the most people working from home (29.5%).
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.
| Measure | Topsfield | Putnam | Princeton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,624Lowest |
9,292Highest |
3,529 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +2.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±10.9Lowest 9% above U.S. |
43.7±3 12% above U.S. |
46.1±7Highest 19% above U.S. |
| Princeton and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.6%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±4.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Princeton and Topsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.5%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.9%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Topsfield and Princeton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 66.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Putnam and Topsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $191,146±$21kHighest 137% above U.S. |
$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$158,750±$46k 97% above U.S. |
| Topsfield and Princeton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $836,600±$60kHighest 151% above U.S. |
$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$520,500±$48k 56% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $994±$841 30% below U.S. |
$1,149±$44Highest 19% below U.S. |
$897±$852Lowest 37% below U.S. |
| Putnam and Topsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S. |
$6,633 113% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.4%±47.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
69.8%±46.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Princeton and Topsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
37 minHighest 38% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.5%±7.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.5%±6.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Princeton and Topsfield 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 | #172 of 282 in MA | #128 of 149 in CT | #59 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Putnam School District | Wachusett |
| High school in town | — | Putnam High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.5 |
— |
| 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.