Compare towns
Adams vs Central Falls vs Spencer
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Adams has the most affordable homes ($210k median).
Central Falls has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.6%).
Spencer has the most people working from home (15%).
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 | Adams | Central Falls | Spencer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,074Lowest |
22,701Highest |
12,008 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.3±3.3 22% above U.S. |
32.5±2.3Lowest 16% below U.S. |
48.9±6.8Highest 26% above U.S. |
| Spencer and Adams are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.7%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
26.1%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 25.2%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
10.7%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Spencer and Adams are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
10.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Spencer and Central Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $58,929±$6k 27% below U.S. |
$49,285±$8kLowest 39% below U.S. |
$80,533±$11kHighest about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $209,900±$15kLowest 37% below U.S. |
$352,100±$30k 6% above U.S. |
$382,000±$22kHighest 15% above U.S. |
| Spencer and Central Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $963±$74Lowest 32% below U.S. |
$1,200±$75Highest 15% below U.S. |
$1,078±$161 24% below U.S. |
| Central Falls and Spencer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,638Lowest 17% above U.S. |
$3,744 20% above U.S. |
$4,387Highest 41% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.1%±10.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.7%±8.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±10.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Adams and Central Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 13.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
24.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
11%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
25.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
63%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1944 36 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Highest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.3%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
5.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15%±7.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Spencer and Adams 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 | #230 of 282 in MA | #38 of 38 in RI | #261 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hoosac Valley Regional | Learning Community · Segue Institute for Learning | Spencer-E Brookfield |
| High school in town | None in town | Central Falls Sr High | David Prouty High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.6Highest |
9.9Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.