Compare towns
Paxton vs Spencer vs Holden
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%).
Spencer has the most renters (37% rent).
Holden has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.8%).
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 | Spencer | Holden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,002Lowest |
12,008 |
20,064Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1% MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+14.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±3.3 4% above MA |
48.9±6.8Highest 22% above MA |
41.5±1.8Lowest 4% above MA |
| Spencer and Paxton 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% |
16.4%±3.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
24.9%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 18.4%±3.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
26%±4.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.7%±1.8 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.7% MA: 47.3% |
29.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
58.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15.9%±1.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.2%±2.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $134,083±$8k 29% above MA |
$80,533±$11kLowest 23% below MA |
$141,923±$11kHighest 37% above MA |
| Holden 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 |
$382,000±$22kLowest 32% below MA |
$470,700±$13k 16% below MA |
| Paxton and Holden 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 |
$1,078±$161Lowest 39% below MA |
$1,648±$214Highest 6% below MA |
| Holden and Paxton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,129Highest 19% above MA |
$4,387Lowest 27% below MA |
$6,359 6% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.2%±15.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±10.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
42.4%±7.2 MA: 51.8% |
| Spencer and Holden 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% |
11%Highest MA: 10% |
4.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
63%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA |
1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1971Highest 7 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 5% above MA |
34 minHighest 18% above MA |
27 minLowest 6% below MA |
| Work from home | 25.5%±5.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
15%±7.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
18.2%±3.1 MA: 18.6% |
| Paxton and Holden 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 | #261 of 282 in MA | #57 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Wachusett | Spencer-E Brookfield | Wachusett |
| High school in town | None in town | David Prouty High | Wachusett Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.9Lowest |
13.0Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.