Compare towns
Paxton vs Exeter vs Sutton vs Holden
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%).
Exeter has the most renters (30.9% rent).
Sutton has the most expensive homes ($523k median).
Holden has the most kids (24.9% 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 | Exeter | Sutton | Holden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,002Lowest |
16,151 |
9,452 |
20,064Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±3.3 7% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
41.5±1.8Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.4%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
24.9%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Holden and Sutton 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%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.7%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Exeter and Sutton 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% |
52.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
58.2% 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% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $134,083±$8k 66% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$147,125±$25kHighest 82% above U.S. |
$141,923±$11k 76% above U.S. |
| Sutton and Holden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $472,300±$29k 42% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$523,100±$47kHighest 57% above U.S. |
$470,700±$13k 41% above U.S. |
| Sutton and Paxton 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. |
$1,190±$401Lowest 16% below U.S. |
$1,648±$214 17% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Holden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,129 129% above U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$6,763 117% above U.S. |
$6,359Lowest 104% 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% |
47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.4%±7.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Sutton 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% |
5.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 16% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
27 min 3% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 25.5%±5.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.2%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Paxton and Sutton 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 | #105 of 282 in MA | #57 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Wachusett | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Sutton | Wachusett |
| High school in town | None in town | Exeter High School | Sutton High School | Wachusett Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1Lowest |
12.6 |
13.0Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.