Compare towns
Spencer vs Mendon vs Paxton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Spencer has the most renters (37% rent).
Mendon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.7%).
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.
| Measure | Spencer | Mendon | Paxton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 12,008Highest |
6,325 |
5,002Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.9±6.8Highest 22% above MA |
44.1±4.4 10% above MA |
41.8±3.3Lowest 4% above MA |
| Spencer and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.4%±3.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.8%±6.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
17.4%±3.6 MA: 19.4% |
| Mendon and Paxton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26%±4.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
14.7%±3.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.4%±3.4 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+ | 29.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
46.9% MA: 47.3% |
54.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.8%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
15.9%±1.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $80,533±$11kLowest 23% below MA |
$132,256±$33k 27% above MA |
$134,083±$8kHighest 29% above MA |
| Paxton and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $382,000±$22kLowest 32% below MA |
$616,000±$37kHighest 10% above MA |
$472,300±$29k 16% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,078±$161Lowest 39% below MA |
$1,840±$196Highest 4% above MA |
$1,386±$88 21% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,387Lowest 27% below MA |
$7,213Highest 20% above MA |
$7,129 19% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.6%±10.3 MA: 51.8% |
78.7%±26Highest MA: 51.8% |
26.2%±15.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Mendon and Spencer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11%Highest MA: 10% |
7.1% MA: 10% |
1.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 63%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.9% MA: 62.5% |
91.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1985Highest 21 yrs newer than MA |
1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 18% above MA |
30 minLowest 4% above MA |
31 min 5% above MA |
| Work from home | 15%±7.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
15.1%±5.7 MA: 18.6% |
25.5%±5.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Paxton and Mendon 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 | #261 of 282 in MA | #210 of 282 in MA | #219 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Spencer-E Brookfield | Mendon-Upton | Wachusett |
| High school in town | David Prouty High | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.9 |
— | — |
| 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.