Compare towns
Paxton vs Exeter vs Spencer
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 homeowners (91.8%).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Spencer has the most affordable homes ($382k median).
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 | Exeter | Spencer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,002Lowest |
16,151Highest |
12,008 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±3.3Lowest 7% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
48.9±6.8Highest 26% above U.S. |
| Spencer and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.4%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Paxton and Exeter 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% |
24.4%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
26%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Spencer and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15.9%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $134,083±$8kHighest 66% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13k 37% above U.S. |
$80,533±$11kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $472,300±$29kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21k 37% above U.S. |
$382,000±$22kLowest 15% above U.S. |
| Paxton and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,386±$88 about the U.S. average |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,078±$161Lowest 24% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,129 129% above U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$4,387Lowest 41% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.2%±15.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±10.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Spencer 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% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
11%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
63%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 25.5%±5.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
15%±7.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Paxton and Exeter 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 | #22 of 120 in NH | #261 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Wachusett | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Spencer-E Brookfield |
| High school in town | None in town | Exeter High School | David Prouty High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1Highest |
9.9Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.