Compare towns
Paxton vs Lancaster 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 the most homeowners (91.8%).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
Spencer has the most renters (37% rent).
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 | Lancaster | Spencer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,002Lowest |
8,606 |
12,008Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1% MA: +7.4% |
+4.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±3.3Lowest 4% above MA |
43.1±4.9 8% above MA |
48.9±6.8Highest 22% above MA |
| Spencer and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.4%±3.6 MA: 19.4% |
19.2%±4Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.4%±3.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Lancaster 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 MA: 17.9% |
19.9%±4.2 MA: 17.9% |
26%±4.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Spencer and Lancaster 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 MA: 47.3% |
50.3% MA: 47.3% |
29.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15.9%±1.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.2%±2.4 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $134,083±$8k 29% above MA |
$134,833±$27kHighest 30% above MA |
$80,533±$11kLowest 23% below MA |
| Lancaster 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±$29k 16% below MA |
$519,100±$60kHighest 8% below MA |
$382,000±$22kLowest 32% below MA |
| Lancaster 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 |
$2,338±$539Highest 33% above MA |
$1,078±$161Lowest 39% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,129 19% above MA |
$7,235Highest 21% above MA |
$4,387Lowest 27% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.2%±15.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
68.3%±36.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±10.3 MA: 51.8% |
| Lancaster 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 MA: 10% |
1.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
11%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
85.1% 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 minLowest 5% above MA |
32 min 9% above MA |
34 minHighest 18% above MA |
| Work from home | 25.5%±5.1 MA: 18.6% |
33.6%±9.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
15%±7.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Lancaster and Paxton 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 | #145 of 282 in MA | #261 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Wachusett | Nashoba | Spencer-E Brookfield |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | David Prouty High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.9 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.