Compare towns
Paxton vs Millis vs Leicester
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 people working from home (25.5%).
Millis has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Leicester has the most affordable homes ($413k 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 | Millis | Leicester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,002Lowest |
8,888 |
11,113Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1% MA: +7.4% |
+7.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±3.3Lowest 4% above MA |
46.4±3Highest 16% above MA |
42.4±3.5 6% above MA |
| Millis and Leicester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.4%±3.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.4%±2.8 MA: 19.4% |
20.2%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Leicester and Millis 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% |
23.5%±3.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.9%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
| Millis and Leicester 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% |
54.5% MA: 47.3% |
31%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15.9%±1.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.3%±1.9 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $134,083±$8k 29% above MA |
$155,996±$9kHighest 50% above MA |
$105,173±$9kLowest about the MA average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $472,300±$29k 16% below MA |
$603,500±$31kHighest 7% above MA |
$413,100±$23kLowest 27% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,386±$88Lowest 21% below MA |
$1,696±$279Highest 4% below MA |
$1,487±$258 16% below MA |
| Millis and Leicester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,129 19% above MA |
$9,344Highest 56% above MA |
$4,452Lowest 26% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.2%±15.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.5%±16.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
29.7%±14.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Millis and Leicester 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% |
4.8%Highest MA: 10% |
3.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
88.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 5% above MA |
31 minHighest 5% above MA |
27 minLowest 6% below MA |
| Work from home | 25.5%±5.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
17.5%±4.2 MA: 18.6% |
13.1%±4.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Paxton and Millis 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 | #63 of 282 in MA | #222 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Wachusett | Millis | Leicester |
| High school in town | None in town | Millis High School | Leicester High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7 |
10.7 |
| 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.