Compare towns
Paxton vs Putnam vs Leicester
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 most people working from home (25.5%).
Putnam has the most affordable homes ($269k median).
Leicester has the most kids (20.2% 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.
| Measure | Paxton | Putnam | Leicester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,002Lowest |
9,292 |
11,113Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +1.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±3.3Lowest 7% above U.S. |
43.7±3Highest 12% above U.S. |
42.4±3.5 9% above U.S. |
| Putnam 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 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
20.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Leicester and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.4%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.9%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Leicester and Putnam 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
31% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15.9%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.3%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $134,083±$8kHighest 66% above U.S. |
$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$105,173±$9k 30% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $472,300±$29kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$413,100±$23k 24% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,386±$88 about the U.S. average |
$1,149±$44Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,487±$258Highest 5% above U.S. |
| Leicester and Paxton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,129Highest 129% above U.S. |
$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S. |
$4,452 43% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.2%±15.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
29.7%±14.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Putnam 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Highest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 16% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
27 min 3% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 25.5%±5.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #219 of 282 in MA | #128 of 149 in CT | #222 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Wachusett | Putnam School District | Leicester |
| High school in town | None in town | Putnam High School | Leicester High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.5Lowest |
10.7Highest |
| 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.