What stands out worked out from the figures below

Rutland has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.5%).

Paxton has the most people working from home (25.5%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Rutland	Paxton
People
Population	9,353Highest	5,002Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+13.5%Highest MA: +7.4%	+4.1%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	41.4±2.5Lowest 4% above MA	41.8±3.3Highest 4% above MA
	Paxton and Rutland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	26.4%±5.4Highest MA: 19.4%	17.4%±3.6Lowest 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+	14.7%±2.6Lowest MA: 17.9%	18.4%±3.4Highest MA: 17.9%
	Paxton and Rutland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	42%Lowest MA: 47.3%	54.7%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.6%±2.3Lowest MA: 7.9%	15.9%±1.9Highest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$145,707±$28kHighest 40% above MA	$134,083±$8kLowest 29% 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	$462,800±$33kLowest 18% below MA	$472,300±$29kHighest 16% 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	$1,078±$170Lowest 39% below MA	$1,386±$88Highest 21% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,657Lowest 6% below MA	$7,129Highest 19% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	47.8%±26.7Highest MA: 51.8%	26.2%±15.7Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Rutland and Paxton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	2.1%Highest MA: 10%	1.4%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	89.4%Lowest MA: 62.5%	91.8%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1990Highest 26 yrs newer than MA	1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	37 minHighest 27% above MA	31 minLowest 5% above MA
Work from home	16.1%±5Lowest MA: 18.6%	25.5%±5.1Highest 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	#150 of 282 in MA	#219 of 282 in MA
School district	Wachusett	Wachusett
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.