Compare towns
Paxton vs Ware vs Rutland
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%).
Ware has the most affordable homes ($290k median).
Rutland has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.5%).
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 | Ware | Rutland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,002Lowest |
10,048Highest |
9,353 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1% MA: +7.4% |
+2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+13.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±3.3 4% above MA |
43.1±4.7Highest 8% above MA |
41.4±2.5Lowest 4% above MA |
| Ware 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% |
19.1%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
26.4%±5.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Rutland 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% |
20.6%±3.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
14.7%±2.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Ware 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 MA: 47.3% |
24%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
42% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15.9%±1.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±2.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $134,083±$8k 29% above MA |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% below MA |
$145,707±$28kHighest 40% above MA |
| Rutland 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 |
$289,700±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
$462,800±$33k 18% below MA |
| Paxton and Rutland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,386±$88Highest 21% below MA |
$1,043±$109Lowest 41% below MA |
$1,078±$170 39% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,129Highest 19% above MA |
$4,237Lowest 29% below MA |
$5,657 6% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.2%±15.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.8%±26.7 MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Rutland 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% |
11.8%Highest MA: 10% |
2.1% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
72.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1990Highest 26 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 5% above MA |
28 minLowest about the MA average |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
| Work from home | 25.5%±5.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16.1%±5 MA: 18.6% |
| Paxton and Rutland 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 | #267 of 282 in MA | #150 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Wachusett | Ware | Wachusett |
| High school in town | None in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.