What stands out worked out from the figures below

Paxton has the most people working from home (25.5%).

Rutland has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.5%).

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	Rutland
People
Population	5,002Lowest	9,353Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.1%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+13.5%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	41.8±3.3Highest 4% above MA	41.4±2.5Lowest 4% above MA
	Paxton and Rutland 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%	26.4%±5.4Highest MA: 19.4%
	Rutland 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%	14.7%±2.6Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Paxton and Rutland 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%	42%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	15.9%±1.9Highest MA: 7.9%	5.6%±2.3Lowest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$134,083±$8kLowest 29% above MA	$145,707±$28kHighest 40% above MA
	Rutland and Paxton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$472,300±$29kHighest 16% below MA	$462,800±$33kLowest 18% below MA
	Paxton and Rutland 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	$1,078±$170Lowest 39% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,129Highest 19% above MA	$5,657Lowest 6% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	26.2%±15.7Lowest MA: 51.8%	47.8%±26.7Highest MA: 51.8%
	Rutland 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%	2.1%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	91.8%Highest MA: 62.5%	89.4%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA	1990Highest 26 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minLowest 5% above MA	37 minHighest 27% above MA
Work from home	25.5%±5.1Highest MA: 18.6%	16.1%±5Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Paxton and Rutland 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	#150 of 282 in MA
School district	Wachusett	Wachusett
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.