Compare towns
Paxton vs Newfields 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 youngest population (median age 41.8).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
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 | Newfields | Spencer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,002 |
2,023Lowest |
12,008Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±3.3Lowest 7% above U.S. |
44.1±1.8 13% above U.S. |
48.9±6.8Highest 26% above U.S. |
| Spencer and Newfields 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% |
18.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Newfields and Paxton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.4%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Spencer and Paxton 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% |
68.1%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% |
7.5%±7.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Paxton and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $134,083±$8k 66% above U.S. |
$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
$80,533±$11kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $472,300±$29k 42% above U.S. |
$646,400±$34kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$382,000±$22kLowest 15% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,386±$88 about the U.S. average |
$1,875±$323Highest 33% above U.S. |
$1,078±$161Lowest 24% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,129 129% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,387Lowest 41% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.2%±15.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±40.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±10.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Spencer and Newfields 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% |
2.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
11%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
63%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 25.5%±5.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15%±7.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #219 of 282 in MA | — | #261 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Wachusett | Newfields School District | 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 History | None yet | 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.