What stands out worked out from the figures below

Paxton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.1%).

Pepperell has the most kids (20.1% under 18).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Paxton	Pepperell
People
Population	5,002Lowest	11,663Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.1%Highest MA: +7.4%	+0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	41.8±3.3Lowest 4% above MA	42.4±3.3Highest 6% above MA
	Pepperell and Paxton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	17.4%±3.6Lowest MA: 19.4%	20.1%±3.3Highest MA: 19.4%
	Pepperell and Paxton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.4%±3.4Highest MA: 17.9%	18.2%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Paxton and Pepperell 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%	43.8%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	15.9%±1.9Highest MA: 7.9%	5.7%±2.3Lowest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$134,083±$8kHighest 29% above MA	$124,073±$12kLowest 19% above MA
	Paxton and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$472,300±$29kLowest 16% below MA	$482,100±$14kHighest 14% below MA
	Pepperell and Paxton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,386±$88Highest 21% below MA	$1,295±$238Lowest 27% below MA
	Paxton and Pepperell 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	$6,698Lowest 12% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	26.2%±15.7Lowest MA: 51.8%	45.1%±16.1Highest MA: 51.8%
	Pepperell and Paxton 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%	8%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	91.8%Highest MA: 62.5%	84.3%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA	1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minLowest 5% above MA	34 minHighest 16% above MA
Work from home	25.5%±5.1Highest MA: 18.6%	18.1%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Paxton and Pepperell 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	#153 of 282 in MA
School district	Wachusett	North Middlesex
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.