Compare towns
Paxton vs Sutton vs Ware 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%).
Sutton has the most expensive homes ($523k median).
Ware has the most affordable homes ($253k median).
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 | Sutton | Ware | Holden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,002Lowest |
9,452 |
6,369 |
20,064Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1% MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+1.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+14.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±3.3 4% above MA |
44.3±2.5Highest 11% above MA |
39.8±6Lowest about the MA average |
41.5±1.8 4% above MA |
| Sutton and Paxton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.4%±3.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
23.3%±4.4 MA: 19.4% |
24.9%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Holden and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.4%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.4%±3.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.7%±1.8 MA: 17.9% |
| Sutton and Holden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.7% MA: 47.3% |
52.8% MA: 47.3% |
15.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
58.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15.9%±1.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $134,083±$8k 29% above MA |
$147,125±$25kHighest 42% above MA |
$45,158±$11kLowest 57% below MA |
$141,923±$11k 37% above MA |
| Sutton and Holden 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 |
$523,100±$47kHighest 7% below MA |
$253,400±$31kLowest 55% below MA |
$470,700±$13k 16% below MA |
| Sutton 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 |
$1,190±$401 32% below MA |
$1,039±$104Lowest 41% 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 |
$6,763 13% above MA |
$3,408Lowest 43% below MA |
$6,359 6% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.2%±15.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
64.5%±17.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
42.4%±7.2 MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Sutton 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% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
14.1%Highest MA: 10% |
4.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
89.7% MA: 62.5% |
57.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 5% above MA |
30 min about the MA average |
27 minLowest 9% below MA |
27 min 6% below MA |
| Work from home | 25.5%±5.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
16.6%±5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
18.2%±3.1 MA: 18.6% |
| Paxton and Sutton 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 | #105 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA | #57 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Wachusett | Sutton | — | Wachusett |
| High school in town | None in town | Sutton High School | — | Wachusett Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.6Lowest |
— | 13.0Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.