Compare towns

Paxton vs Sutton vs Woonsocket

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 people working from home (25.5%).
Sutton has the most expensive homes ($523k median).
Woonsocket has the most renters (62.8% rent).

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.

MeasurePaxtonSuttonWoonsocket
People
Population
5,002Lowest
9,452
43,521Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+4.1%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+4.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
+5%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
41.8±3.3
7% above U.S.
44.3±2.5Highest
14% above U.S.
35.7±1.3Lowest
8% below U.S.
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
U.S.: 22%
19.6%±3.3
U.S.: 22%
23.3%±2Highest
U.S.: 22%
Woonsocket and Sutton 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%
18.8%±3.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
14.7%±1.4Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Sutton and Paxton 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
U.S.: 35.7%
52.8%
U.S.: 35.7%
19.8%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
15.9%±1.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.9%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.1%±0.9
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$134,083±$8k
66% above U.S.
$147,125±$25kHighest
82% above U.S.
$61,059±$5kLowest
24% below U.S.
Sutton 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±$29k
42% above U.S.
$523,100±$47kHighest
57% above U.S.
$311,000±$15kLowest
7% below U.S.
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±$88Highest
about the U.S. average
$1,190±$401
16% below U.S.
$1,161±$48Lowest
18% below U.S.
Paxton and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$7,129Highest
129% above U.S.
$6,763
117% above U.S.
$3,960Lowest
27% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
26.2%±15.7Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
47.5%±24.4Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
46.7%±5.4
U.S.: 51.1%
Sutton and Woonsocket 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%
5.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
18.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
91.8%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
89.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
37.2%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1967
13 yrs older than U.S.
1981Highest
1 yr newer than U.S.
1952Lowest
28 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
31 minHighest
16% above U.S.
30 min
12% above U.S.
29 minLowest
11% above U.S.
Work from home
25.5%±5.1Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
22.7%±4.1
U.S.: 15.1%
6.4%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
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 #37 of 38 in RI
School district Wachusett Sutton RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket
High school in town None in town Sutton High School Woonsocket High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
12.6Lowest
15.2Highest
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.