Compare towns
Paxton vs Worcester 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%).
Worcester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.1%).
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 | Worcester | Spencer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,002Lowest |
207,055Highest |
12,008 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1% MA: +7.4% |
+14.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±3.3 4% above MA |
33.9±0.5Lowest 15% below MA |
48.9±6.8Highest 22% above MA |
| Spencer and Paxton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.4%±3.6 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±0.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.4%±3.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Worcester 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% |
13.3%±0.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
26%±4.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Spencer 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% |
35.2% MA: 47.3% |
29.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15.9%±1.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
14.1%±0.8 MA: 7.9% |
5.2%±2.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Paxton and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $134,083±$8kHighest 29% above MA |
$70,102±$2kLowest 33% below MA |
$80,533±$11k 23% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $472,300±$29kHighest 16% below MA |
$374,400±$7kLowest 33% below MA |
$382,000±$22k 32% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,386±$88 21% below MA |
$1,487±$38Highest 16% below MA |
$1,078±$161Lowest 39% below MA |
| Worcester 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 |
$4,733 21% below MA |
$4,387Lowest 27% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.2%±15.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
54.2%±2.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±10.3 MA: 51.8% |
| Worcester and Spencer 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% |
19.6%Highest MA: 10% |
11% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
42.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
63% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1951Lowest 13 yrs older than MA |
1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 5% above MA |
24 minLowest 17% below MA |
34 minHighest 18% above MA |
| Work from home | 25.5%±5.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
11.5%±1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
15%±7.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Paxton and Spencer 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 | #266 of 282 in MA | #261 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Wachusett | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | Spencer-E Brookfield |
| High school in town | None in town | South High Community | David Prouty High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.6Highest |
9.9Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.