Compare towns
Leicester vs Worcester 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 kids (20.2% under 18).
Worcester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.1%).
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 | Worcester | Paxton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,113 |
207,055Highest |
5,002Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+14.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±3.5Highest 6% above MA |
33.9±0.5Lowest 15% below MA |
41.8±3.3 4% above MA |
| Leicester and Paxton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.2%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±0.8 MA: 19.4% |
17.4%±3.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Leicester and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.9%±3.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
13.3%±0.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.4%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
| Leicester and Paxton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
35.2% MA: 47.3% |
54.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.3%±1.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
14.1%±0.8 MA: 7.9% |
15.9%±1.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Paxton and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $105,173±$9k about the MA average |
$70,102±$2kLowest 33% below MA |
$134,083±$8kHighest 29% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $413,100±$23k 27% below MA |
$374,400±$7kLowest 33% below MA |
$472,300±$29kHighest 16% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,487±$258Highest 16% below MA |
$1,487±$38Highest 16% below MA |
$1,386±$88Lowest 21% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,452Lowest 26% below MA |
$4,733 21% below MA |
$7,129Highest 19% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.7%±14.8 MA: 51.8% |
54.2%±2.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
26.2%±15.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Below poverty line | 3.8% MA: 10% |
19.6%Highest MA: 10% |
1.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.5% MA: 62.5% |
42.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
91.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1951Lowest 13 yrs older than MA |
1967Highest 3 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 6% below MA |
24 minLowest 17% below MA |
31 minHighest 5% above MA |
| Work from home | 13.1%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
11.5%±1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
25.5%±5.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #222 of 282 in MA | #266 of 282 in MA | #219 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Leicester | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | Wachusett |
| High school in town | Leicester High | South High Community | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Lowest |
14.6Highest |
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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.