Compare towns
Paxton vs Rye vs Mendon
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 affordable homes ($472k median).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).
Mendon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.7%).
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 | Rye | Mendon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,002Lowest |
5,611 |
6,325Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±3.3Lowest 7% above U.S. |
55.1±3Highest 42% above U.S. |
44.1±4.4 13% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 17.4%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
22.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Mendon and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.4%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
31.7%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.7%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
61.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.9%Lowest 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% |
6.8%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $134,083±$8k 66% above U.S. |
$140,655±$39kHighest 74% above U.S. |
$132,256±$33kLowest 64% 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. |
$616,000±$37k 85% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,386±$88Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,781±$156 26% above U.S. |
$1,840±$196Highest 30% above U.S. |
| Mendon and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,129Lowest 129% above U.S. |
$7,519Highest 141% above U.S. |
$7,213 131% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.2%±15.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.3%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
78.7%±26Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Mendon and Rye 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 16% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 9% above U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 25.5%±5.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
30.9%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±5.7Lowest 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 | #210 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Wachusett | Rye School District | Mendon-Upton |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.