Compare towns
Paxton vs Webster vs Sutton vs Spencer
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%).
Webster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.9%).
Sutton has the most expensive homes ($523k median).
Spencer has the oldest population (median age 48.9).
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 | Webster | Sutton | Spencer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,002Lowest |
12,228Highest |
9,452 |
12,008 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1% MA: +7.4% |
+6.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±3.3 4% above MA |
37.2±2.1Lowest 7% below MA |
44.3±2.5 11% above MA |
48.9±6.8Highest 22% above MA |
| Spencer and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.4%±3.6 MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±3.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
16.4%±3.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Webster 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 MA: 17.9% |
15.7%±2.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
26%±4.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Spencer and Sutton 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% |
18.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
52.8% MA: 47.3% |
29.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15.9%±1.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
6%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.2%±2.4 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $134,083±$8k 29% above MA |
$63,837±$8kLowest 39% below MA |
$147,125±$25kHighest 42% above MA |
$80,533±$11k 23% below MA |
| 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 16% below MA |
$333,100±$14kLowest 41% below MA |
$523,100±$47kHighest 7% below MA |
$382,000±$22k 32% 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±$88Highest 21% below MA |
$1,198±$85 32% below MA |
$1,190±$401 32% below MA |
$1,078±$161Lowest 39% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,129Highest 19% above MA |
$3,234Lowest 46% below MA |
$6,763 13% above MA |
$4,387 27% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.2%±15.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
46.1%±7.4 MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±10.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Spencer 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% |
16%Highest MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
11% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
45.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.7% MA: 62.5% |
63% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 5% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
30 min about the MA average |
34 minHighest 18% above MA |
| Work from home | 25.5%±5.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
7.1%±2.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
15%±7.3 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 | #271 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA | #261 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Wachusett | — | Sutton | Spencer-E Brookfield |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Sutton High School | David Prouty High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.6Highest |
9.9Lowest |
| 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.