Compare towns
Adams vs Temple 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).
Temple has the most homeowners (82.2%).
Spencer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.6%).
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 | Temple | Spencer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,074 |
1,363Lowest |
12,008Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.3±3.3Lowest 22% above U.S. |
49.5±7.3Highest 27% above U.S. |
48.9±6.8 26% above U.S. |
| Temple and Spencer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.7%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
14.3%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Spencer and Adams are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.2%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.8%±2.8Lowest 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.7%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Spencer and Adams are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $58,929±$6kLowest 27% below U.S. |
$94,107±$15kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$80,533±$11k about the U.S. average |
| Temple and Spencer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $209,900±$15kLowest 37% below U.S. |
$401,000±$27kHighest 21% above U.S. |
$382,000±$22k 15% above U.S. |
| Temple and Spencer 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. |
$1,169±$523Highest 17% below U.S. |
$1,078±$161 24% below U.S. |
| Temple 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. |
$6,983Highest 124% above U.S. |
$4,387 41% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.1%±10.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.2%±54.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±10.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Adams and Spencer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 13.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
63% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
37 minHighest 39% above U.S. |
34 min 30% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.3%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±5.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15%±7.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Temple and Spencer 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 | — | #261 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hoosac Valley Regional | Contoocook Valley School District | Spencer-E Brookfield |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | David Prouty High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.9 |
| 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.