What stands out worked out from the figures below

Paxton has the most people working from home (25.5%).

Townsend has the most kids (21% under 18).

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	Townsend
People
Population	5,002Lowest	9,100Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.1%Highest MA: +7.4%	+2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	41.8±3.3Highest 4% above MA	40.9±3.3Lowest about the MA average
	Paxton and Townsend 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%	21%±3.2Highest MA: 19.4%
	Townsend and Paxton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.4%±3.4Highest MA: 17.9%	17.1%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Paxton and Townsend 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 MA: 47.3%	35.5%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	15.9%±1.9Highest MA: 7.9%	5.1%±2.4Lowest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$134,083±$8kHighest 29% above MA	$121,528±$23kLowest 17% above MA
	Paxton and Townsend 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	$433,200±$22kLowest 23% below MA
	Paxton and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,386±$88Lowest 21% below MA	$1,469±$313Highest 17% below MA
	Townsend 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	$6,031Lowest about the MA average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	26.2%±15.7Lowest MA: 51.8%	50.6%±16.8Highest MA: 51.8%
	Townsend 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 MA: 10%	8.9%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	91.8%Highest MA: 62.5%	82%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA	1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minLowest 5% above MA	37 minHighest 27% above MA
Work from home	25.5%±5.1Highest MA: 18.6%	10.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#219 of 282 in MA	#136 of 282 in MA
School district	Wachusett	North Middlesex
High school in town	None in town	North Middlesex Regional
Students per teacherat that high school	—	13.1
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.