Compare towns
Paxton vs Woonsocket vs Sutton vs Rutland
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%).
Woonsocket has the most renters (62.8% rent).
Sutton has the most expensive homes ($523k 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 | Woonsocket | Sutton | Rutland |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,002Lowest |
43,521Highest |
9,452 |
9,353 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+13.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±3.3 7% above U.S. |
35.7±1.3Lowest 8% below U.S. |
44.3±2.5Highest 14% above U.S. |
41.4±2.5 6% above 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% |
23.3%±2 U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
26.4%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Rutland and Woonsocket 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% |
14.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.7%±2.6Lowest 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% |
19.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
42% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15.9%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $134,083±$8k 66% above U.S. |
$61,059±$5kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$147,125±$25kHighest 82% above U.S. |
$145,707±$28k 80% above U.S. |
| Sutton and Rutland 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. |
$311,000±$15kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$523,100±$47kHighest 57% above U.S. |
$462,800±$33k 39% above 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 |
$1,161±$48 18% below U.S. |
$1,190±$401 16% below U.S. |
$1,078±$170Lowest 24% 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. |
$3,960Lowest 27% above U.S. |
$6,763 117% above U.S. |
$5,657 81% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.2%±15.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.7%±5.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.8%±26.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Rutland 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
18.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
37.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 11% above U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 40% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 25.5%±5.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.4%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±5 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 | #37 of 38 in RI | #105 of 282 in MA | #150 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Wachusett | RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket | Sutton | Wachusett |
| High school in town | None in town | Woonsocket High School | Sutton High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 15.2Highest |
12.6Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.