Compare towns
Leicester vs Acushnet vs Paxton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Leicester has the most affordable homes ($413k median).
Acushnet has the oldest population (median age 46).
Paxton has the most people working from home (25.5%).
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 | Leicester | Acushnet | Paxton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,113Highest |
10,624 |
5,002Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.5% MA: +7.4% |
+4.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±3.5 6% above MA |
46±2.8Highest 15% above MA |
41.8±3.3Lowest 4% above MA |
| Acushnet and Leicester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.2%±3.8 MA: 19.4% |
20.3%±3.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
17.4%±3.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Acushnet and Leicester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.9%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
23.9%±3.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.4%±3.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Acushnet and Leicester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31% MA: 47.3% |
26.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
54.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.3%±1.9 MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
15.9%±1.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $105,173±$9k about the MA average |
$89,503±$9kLowest 14% below MA |
$134,083±$8kHighest 29% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $413,100±$23kLowest 27% below MA |
$436,400±$34k 22% below MA |
$472,300±$29kHighest 16% below MA |
| Paxton and Acushnet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,487±$258Highest 16% below MA |
$1,170±$354Lowest 34% below MA |
$1,386±$88 21% below MA |
| Leicester and Paxton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,452Lowest 26% below MA |
$4,647 22% below MA |
$7,129Highest 19% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.7%±14.8 MA: 51.8% |
65.4%±15.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
26.2%±15.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Below poverty line | 3.8% MA: 10% |
6%Highest MA: 10% |
1.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.5% MA: 62.5% |
85.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
91.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 6% below MA |
28 min 4% below MA |
31 minHighest 5% above MA |
| Work from home | 13.1%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
10.3%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
25.5%±5.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #222 of 282 in MA | #118 of 282 in MA | #219 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Leicester | Acushnet | Wachusett |
| High school in town | Leicester High | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7 |
— | — |
| 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.