Compare towns
Paxton vs Wareham 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%).
Wareham has the oldest population (median age 52.1).
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 | Wareham | Rutland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,002Lowest |
23,302Highest |
9,353 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.8% MA: +7.4% |
+13.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±3.3 4% above MA |
52.1±3.1Highest 30% above MA |
41.4±2.5Lowest 4% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 17.4%±3.6 MA: 19.4% |
13.1%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
26.4%±5.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Rutland and Paxton 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% |
26.2%±3.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
14.7%±2.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
27.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
42% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15.9%±1.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±2.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $134,083±$8k 29% above MA |
$90,383±$11kLowest 13% 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 |
$424,500±$21kLowest 24% 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±$88 21% below MA |
$1,504±$180Highest 15% below MA |
$1,078±$170Lowest 39% below MA |
| Wareham 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 |
$4,341Lowest 28% below MA |
$5,657 6% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.2%±15.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
51.4%±23.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.8%±26.7 MA: 51.8% |
| Wareham 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% |
6.7%Highest MA: 10% |
2.1% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA |
1990Highest 26 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 5% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
| Work from home | 25.5%±5.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.4%±3.6Lowest 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 | #272 of 282 in MA | #150 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Wachusett | Wareham | Wachusett |
| High school in town | None in town | Wareham Senior High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.6 |
— |
| 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.