Compare towns
Berlin vs Gardner vs Spencer
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Berlin has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.2%).
Gardner has the most affordable homes ($302k median).
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 | Berlin | Gardner | Spencer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,378Lowest |
21,148Highest |
12,008 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.2% MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±2.8Highest 24% above MA |
43.7±2.3Lowest 9% above MA |
48.9±6.8 22% above MA |
| Berlin and Spencer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.4%±4.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.3%±2.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.4%±3.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Gardner and Spencer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 30.1%±5.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.6%±2.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
26%±4.4 MA: 17.9% |
| Berlin and Spencer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
23.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
29.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±2.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
5.2%±2.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Spencer and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $121,336±$12kHighest 17% above MA |
$67,518±$8kLowest 35% below MA |
$80,533±$11k 23% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $616,600±$55kHighest 10% above MA |
$301,600±$20kLowest 46% below MA |
$382,000±$22k 32% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,420±$933Highest 37% above MA |
$1,109±$51 37% below MA |
$1,078±$161Lowest 39% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,116Highest 19% above MA |
$4,150Lowest 31% below MA |
$4,387 27% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.6%±19.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
49.7%±8.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±10.3 MA: 51.8% |
| Berlin and Spencer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5%Lowest MA: 10% |
13.7%Highest MA: 10% |
11% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
58.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
63% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1992Highest 28 yrs newer than MA |
1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 17% above MA |
31 minLowest 5% above MA |
34 minHighest 18% above MA |
| Work from home | 29.1%±6.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
13.3%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
15%±7.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Berlin 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 | #61 of 282 in MA | #273 of 282 in MA | #261 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Berlin-Boylston | Gardner | Spencer-E Brookfield |
| High school in town | None in town | Gardner High | David Prouty High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.5Highest |
9.9Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.