Compare towns
Paxton vs Brooklyn vs Rutland
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 the most people working from home (25.5%).
Brooklyn has the most affordable homes ($315k median).
Rutland has the most kids (26.4% 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 | Brooklyn | Rutland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,002Lowest |
8,517 |
9,353Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +13.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±3.3 7% above U.S. |
45.6±2.5Highest 17% above U.S. |
41.4±2.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Brooklyn and Paxton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.4%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.6%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
26.4%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Rutland and Brooklyn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.7%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Paxton and Brooklyn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
42% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15.9%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $134,083±$8k 66% above U.S. |
$96,207±$15kLowest 19% above U.S. |
$145,707±$28kHighest 80% above U.S. |
| Rutland and Paxton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $472,300±$29kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$315,200±$28kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$462,800±$33k 39% above U.S. |
| Paxton and Rutland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,386±$88Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,125±$98 20% below U.S. |
$1,078±$170Lowest 24% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,129Highest 129% above U.S. |
$4,538Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$5,657 81% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.2%±15.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.5%±19.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.8%±26.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Rutland and Brooklyn 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% |
2.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
37 minHighest 40% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 25.5%±5.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.7%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Paxton and Rutland 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 | #219 of 282 in MA | #113 of 149 in CT | #150 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Wachusett | Brooklyn School District | Wachusett |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.