I live in MA and I probably write 4 or so checks a month if you count the ones my bank writes. Only one or two actually hand-written. Maybe receive 1 every couple of months. I rarely pay with cash but it's not a freak even to see someone paying cash at the grocery store or for lottery tickets. So certainly not exceptionally rare.
My town charges a premium for tax payments on the web because they outsource it. So, yes, I pay by check.
I (in CA) just looked at my bank log and I hand-wrote 32 physical checks in 2023. That's in addition to the 39 checks my bank writes for me when I "Bill Pay" online. So that's roughly 6 checks a month. I always wonder about people who claim to never write checks. Like, really? Your local handyman or gardener actually accepts a credit card?
In fairness, if someone is renting, isn't paying local taxes, isn't paying local service people on a regular basis, etc. they probably don't need checks much.
Rent is probably the main reason I have written checks in the last 20 years. Most places, I have the option of using a outsourced service with a terrible website and "convenience" fees, or I can simply hand my landlord a check for the amount. I can tell my bank to automatically mail a check on a schedule. With larger landlords I'm not sure a physical check ever actually exists, but I'm still "writing a check".
Even when cheques were used here, they often wouldn't accept cheques and would insist on cash because they didn't want the hassle of cashing cheques especially for such relatively low value transactions. Maybe if you were redoing your heating system they might take one, but a maintenence callout? Nah.
My town charges a premium for tax payments on the web because they outsource it. So, yes, I pay by check.