Compare towns
Paxton vs Hadley vs Spencer
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Paxton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.1%).
Hadley has the shortest commute (20 min average).
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 | Hadley | Spencer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,002Lowest |
5,306 |
12,008Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±3.3Lowest 4% above MA |
45.8±7.1 15% above MA |
48.9±6.8Highest 22% above MA |
| Spencer and Hadley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.4%±3.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.2%±4.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
16.4%±3.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Paxton and Spencer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.4%±3.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
24.2%±4.8 MA: 17.9% |
26%±4.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Spencer and Hadley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.7% MA: 47.3% |
61.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
29.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15.9%±1.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
10.9%±5.7 MA: 7.9% |
5.2%±2.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Paxton and Hadley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $134,083±$8kHighest 29% above MA |
$119,259±$12k 15% above MA |
$80,533±$11kLowest 23% below MA |
| Paxton and Hadley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $472,300±$29k 16% below MA |
$511,000±$43kHighest 9% below MA |
$382,000±$22kLowest 32% below MA |
| Hadley 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 21% below MA |
$1,402±$132Highest 20% below MA |
$1,078±$161Lowest 39% below MA |
| Hadley and Paxton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,129Highest 19% above MA |
$5,271 12% below MA |
$4,387Lowest 27% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.2%±15.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
38.6%±18.9 MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±10.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Spencer and Hadley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 1.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
6.4% MA: 10% |
11%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.4% MA: 62.5% |
63%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA |
1971Highest 7 yrs newer than MA |
1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 5% above MA |
20 minLowest 33% below MA |
34 minHighest 18% above MA |
| Work from home | 25.5%±5.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
20.1%±7.4 MA: 18.6% |
15%±7.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Paxton and Hadley 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 | #116 of 282 in MA | #261 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Wachusett | Hadley | Spencer-E Brookfield |
| High school in town | None in town | Hopkins Academy | David Prouty High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.3Lowest |
9.9Highest |
| 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.