Compare towns
Paxton vs Berlin vs Leicester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Paxton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.1%).
Berlin has the most affordable homes ($274k median).
Leicester has the most kids (20.2% under 18).
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 | Paxton | Berlin | Leicester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,002 |
2,880Lowest |
11,113Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±3.3Lowest 7% above U.S. |
50.6±2.4Highest 30% above U.S. |
42.4±3.5 9% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 17.4%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
16.6%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Leicester and Paxton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.4%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.8%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.9%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
31% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15.9%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.3%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $134,083±$8kHighest 66% above U.S. |
$86,691±$21kLowest 7% above U.S. |
$105,173±$9k 30% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $472,300±$29kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$273,600±$31kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$413,100±$23k 24% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,386±$88 about the U.S. average |
$1,169±$171Lowest 17% below U.S. |
$1,487±$258Highest 5% above U.S. |
| Leicester and Paxton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,129Highest 129% above U.S. |
$4,418Lowest 42% above U.S. |
$4,452 43% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.2%±15.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41%±19.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
29.7%±14.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Berlin and Leicester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 16% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
27 min 3% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 25.5%±5.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.7%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #219 of 282 in MA | #16 of 70 in VT | #222 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Wachusett | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Leicester |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Leicester High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.7 |
| 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.