What stands out worked out from the figures below

Paxton has the most affordable homes ($472k median).

Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).

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	Rye
People
Population	5,002Lowest	5,611Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+4.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	41.8±3.3Lowest 7% above U.S.	55.1±3Highest 42% above U.S.
Kids under 18	17.4%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22%	18.2%±4Highest U.S.: 22%
	Rye 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 U.S.: 17.2%	31.7%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	54.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	61.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	15.9%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$134,083±$8kLowest 66% above U.S.	$140,655±$39kHighest 74% above U.S.
	Rye 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±$29kLowest 42% above U.S.	$1,028,100±$89kHighest 209% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,386±$88Lowest about the U.S. average	$1,781±$156Highest 26% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,129Lowest 129% above U.S.	$7,519Highest 141% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	26.2%±15.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	44.3%±16.1Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Rye 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 U.S.: 12.5%	6.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	91.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	85.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S.	1972Highest 8 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 16% above U.S.	29 minLowest 9% above U.S.
Work from home	25.5%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	30.9%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Rye 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	#2 of 120 in NH
School district	Wachusett	Rye School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.