Compare towns
Paxton vs Norfolk 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 shortest commute (31 min average).
Norfolk has the most expensive homes ($725k median).
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 | Norfolk | Spencer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,002Lowest |
11,673 |
12,008Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.9% MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±3.3 4% above MA |
41.6±1.3Lowest 4% above MA |
48.9±6.8Highest 22% above MA |
| Spencer and Paxton 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% |
24.4%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.4%±3.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Norfolk 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 MA: 17.9% |
13.8%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
26%±4.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
| 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% MA: 47.3% |
61.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
29.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15.9%±1.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.2%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.2%±2.4 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $134,083±$8k 29% above MA |
$200,720±$22kHighest 93% above MA |
$80,533±$11kLowest 23% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $472,300±$29k 16% below MA |
$725,200±$34kHighest 29% above MA |
$382,000±$22kLowest 32% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,386±$88 21% below MA |
$2,019±$598Highest 15% above MA |
$1,078±$161Lowest 39% below MA |
| Norfolk and Paxton 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 |
$9,651Highest 61% above MA |
$4,387Lowest 27% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.2%±15.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.1%±16Highest MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±10.3 MA: 51.8% |
| Norfolk 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% |
2.2% MA: 10% |
11%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.8% MA: 62.5% |
94.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
63%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 5% above MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
34 min 18% above MA |
| Work from home | 25.5%±5.1 MA: 18.6% |
32.6%±5.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
15%±7.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Norfolk 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 | #123 of 282 in MA | #261 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Wachusett | King Philip · Millis | 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 |
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.