When beginning a new chapter in a bucolic New England town, locals will say that there’s no better place than Paxton. Kristin Steinmetz, youth services librarian at Richards Memorial Library, raised her children in Paxton and says the town is “surrounded by beauty.”
Along the wooded and rural Holbrook Lane are charming colonials, ranch-style houses and Garrison-style homes from the 1960s go for about $420,000. There are split-level homes and ranch-style houses from the 1950s priced just under $600,000 on Cutler Road. On Brooks Road, a winding road lined with stone walls, homes are on spacious lots, as well as grand colonial estates that are fetching about $695,000.
Paxton is part of the Wachusett Regional School District. Students in kindergarten through eighth grade attend Paxton Center School which earned a B-rating from Niche. Here students can participate in a drama club that meets once per week and performs an annual show. At the high school level, students and their parents can choose between Wachusett Regional High School, which has an A-minus rating from Niche, and Bay Path Regional Vocational High School. In addition to its career focus areas that include automotive technology, cosmetology and culinary arts, Bay Path also features a café and salon that are open to the public. Also in town, Anna Maria College is a private, Catholic university with a service focus. Students can participate in Amcares, a volunteer focused group that benefits both the college and surrounding
One of the town’s most attractive spots is Moore State Park, a 400-acre space that features waterfalls, a restored sawmill and wooded paths for cross-country skiing and hiking. Many folks like to canoe and kayak in this area. “It’s also popular for birding,” Steinmetz says. Boynton Park, off Boynton Parkway in Paxton, is a city park with a baseball diamond, picnic area and hiking and nature trails.
Residents can start their day with coffee and an omelet from Theo’s Breakfast & Lunch. Located on Pleasant Street, the restaurant is known for creating holiday-themed items such as bunny pancakes and rabbit-shaped fruit plates. Paxton House of Pizza has a wide selection of paninis, gyros and specialty pizzas. Deli items and other essentials are available at Paxton Market and Ten West Market, which also offers fresh soups, veggies and handmade items from local vendors.
Paxton has access to several state highways: 31, 56 and 122. Each of these state routes wind around the area, allowing residents to travel with ease.
“I love Paxton,” Steinmetz says. “And I love our library most of all.” At the Richards Memorial Library, children can participate in a variety of programming including story time for preschoolers, 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten, and weekly Lego time for school-aged children. “We also host special events where folks can make pottery, participate in teatime and plant trees,” Steinmetz says. There are some additional once-per-month activities that correspond with the school district’s half-day dismissals. Steinmetz says a big perk of living in Paxton is that there are “numerous opportunities for civic engagement.” Whether it’s partnering with campus pantries through local colleges or volunteering at the local library, there are many ways to become involved in this community. While Paxton’s charming colonial homes and parks with waterfalls seem like something from a storybook, this quintessential New England town is more than a mere fantasy.
Cory Gracie
LAER Realty Partners
(351) 208-1774
247 Total Sales
1 in Paxton
$450,000 Price
Jennifer Juliano
Keller Williams Boston MetroWest
(508) 625-7884
142 Total Sales
1 in Paxton
$555,000 Price
Kelly Dimbat
Lamacchia Realty, Inc.
(781) 557-4147
137 Total Sales
1 in Paxton
$300,000 Price
Tony Mallozzi
Anthony Joseph Real Estate LLC
(774) 703-4179
92 Total Sales
1 in Paxton
$295,000 Price
Robert Smith
PREMIER SOTHEBY'S INTL REALTY
(508) 625-7572
187 Total Sales
1 in Paxton
$500,000 Price
Valerie Cohen
ERA Key Realty Services- Fram
(774) 260-6504
62 Total Sales
1 in Paxton
$365,000 Price