The Town FilesPrinceton, Massachusetts
Town in Worcester County · population 3,495 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $520,500
- Household income
- $158,750
- Jan low / Jul high
- 13° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 60 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 21
- Median age
- 46.1
Princeton is a town of 3,495 people in Worcester County, Massachusetts. The median home is worth $520,500, close to the typical Massachusetts town ($510,150). It ranks better for families than 98% of Massachusetts towns, better for cycling than 94% of Massachusetts towns, quieter than 93% of Massachusetts towns.
- #1 in The 19 Best Quiet, Affordable Small Towns to Retire in Massachusetts
- #2 in The 24 Best Affordable Small Towns for Remote Workers in Massachusetts
- #4 in The 25 Quietest Small Towns in Massachusetts
- #8 in The 25 Best Small Towns for Families in Massachusetts
- #12 in The 25 Most Affordable Small Towns in Massachusetts
How Princeton ranks
Percentile among Massachusetts towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Massachusetts towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Princeton is worth $520,500, close to the typical Massachusetts town ($510,150). Homes cost about 3.3 times the median household income of $158,750, which is more affordable than 94% of Massachusetts towns. Median rent is $897 a month. 94.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Princeton | Typical Massachusetts town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $520,500 | $510,150 |
| Median rent | $897 | $1,561 |
| Median household income | $158,750 | $108,622 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.3× | 4.5× |
| Homeownership | 94.3% | 80.7% |
| Median year built | 1975 | 1968 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 3.5% | — |
Who lives in Princeton
| People | Princeton | Typical Massachusetts town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 46.1 | 44.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 20.9% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 22.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 59.4% | 45.7% |
| Below the poverty line | 4.2% | 6.3% |
| Veterans | 7.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.4% | — |
| Work from home | 29.5% | 17.7% |
| Average commute | 36.5 min | 30.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 98.3% | 93.9% |
Weather in Princeton
July highs average 83.2°F and January lows 12.8°F. About 47.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 60.4 inches of snow (typical Massachusetts town: 49.5 in). Expect about 9 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 176 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
21 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Princeton since 1950, compared with 8 for the typical Massachusetts town. 7 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on June 9, 1953 about 3.9 miles from the town center and killed 90. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 92 deaths and 1,233 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on September 6, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 25 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on June 30, 1960.
Severe weather in Worcester County since 1996
Worcester County has been included in 32 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, tornado.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| May 15, 2024 | Flood | DR-4780: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| September 15, 2023 | Hurricane | EM-3599: Hurricane Lee |
| March 27, 2020 | Biological | DR-4496: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3438: Covid-19 |
| July 19, 2018 | Snowstorm | DR-4379: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
Jobs and pay in Worcester County
Worcester County had 351,476 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $71,641 a year. Unemployment was 3.5% in 2023; in Princeton itself the ACS puts it at 0.4%.
Public schools in Princeton
1 public school with 353 students, about 14.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thomas Prince | K-8 | 353 | 14.1 |
Towns near Princeton
- Sterling, MA5.2 mi · 7,985 people · home $498,800
- Rutland, MA6.5 mi · 9,049 people · home $462,800
- Holden, MA6.8 mi · 19,905 people · home $470,700
- Hubbardston, MA7.0 mi · 4,328 people · home $371,600
- Westminster, MA7.1 mi · 8,213 people · home $422,000
- Leominster, MA7.1 mi · 43,782 people · home $380,400
- West Boylston, MA7.5 mi · 7,877 people · home $440,000
- Clinton, MA10.0 mi · 15,428 people · home $387,300
Princeton questions
Is Princeton, Massachusetts a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Princeton scores better for retirees than 83% of Massachusetts towns and quieter than 93%. 20.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 46.1).
How much does a house cost in Princeton?
The median owner-occupied home in Princeton is valued at $520,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $158,750, so homes cost about 3.3 times income. Median rent is $897 a month.
What is the weather like in Princeton?
July highs average 83.2°F and January lows 12.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 47.7 inches of precipitation a year and 60.4 inches of snow.
Does Princeton get tornadoes?
21 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Princeton since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on June 9, 1953. The typical Massachusetts town has had 8.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)