Compare towns
Paxton vs Raynham 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 most people working from home (25.5%).
Raynham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.1%).
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 | Raynham | Spencer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,002Lowest |
15,505Highest |
12,008 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1% MA: +7.4% |
+13.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±3.3Lowest 4% above MA |
42.9±1.5 7% above MA |
48.9±6.8Highest 22% above MA |
| Spencer and Raynham 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% |
20.4%±2.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.4%±3.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Raynham and Paxton 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% |
19.8%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
26%±4.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Spencer and Raynham 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% |
39.7% MA: 47.3% |
29.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15.9%±1.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.2%±2.4 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $134,083±$8kHighest 29% above MA |
$124,012±$16k 19% above MA |
$80,533±$11kLowest 23% below MA |
| Paxton and Raynham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $472,300±$29k 16% below MA |
$524,400±$29kHighest 7% below MA |
$382,000±$22kLowest 32% below MA |
| Raynham and Paxton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,386±$88 21% below MA |
$1,749±$74Highest about the MA average |
$1,078±$161Lowest 39% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,129Highest 19% above MA |
$6,752 13% above MA |
$4,387Lowest 27% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.2%±15.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
67.1%±13.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±10.3 MA: 51.8% |
| Raynham 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% |
7.7% MA: 10% |
11%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
78.1% MA: 62.5% |
63%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 5% above MA |
36 minHighest 25% above MA |
34 min 18% above MA |
| Work from home | 25.5%±5.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
11.8%±3.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
15%±7.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Paxton and Spencer 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 | #190 of 282 in MA | #261 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Wachusett | Bridgewater-Raynham | 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.