Compare towns
Bliss Corner vs Spencer vs North Brookfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bliss Corner has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.8%).
Spencer has the most people working from home (15%).
North Brookfield has the most homeowners (69.3%).
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 | Bliss Corner | Spencer | North Brookfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,405 |
12,008Highest |
4,760Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6% MA: +7.4% |
+1.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51±8.4Highest 28% above MA |
48.9±6.8 22% above MA |
45.2±9.4Lowest 13% above MA |
| Bliss Corner and Spencer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 10.3%±3.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
16.4%±3.9 MA: 19.4% |
16.9%±4.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
| North Brookfield and Spencer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.7%±3.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
26%±4.4 MA: 17.9% |
18.7%±5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bliss Corner and Spencer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 27.1% MA: 47.3% |
29.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
26.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±2.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.2%±2.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±2.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Spencer and Bliss Corner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $75,420±$9kLowest 27% below MA |
$80,533±$11kHighest 23% below MA |
$79,285±$11k 24% below MA |
| Spencer and North Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $446,200±$33kHighest 21% below MA |
$382,000±$22k 32% below MA |
$359,100±$32kLowest 36% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,538±$295Highest 13% below MA |
$1,078±$161 39% below MA |
$981±$63Lowest 44% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,640Lowest 39% below MA |
$4,387Highest 27% below MA |
$4,176 30% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.7%±20.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±10.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.4%±15.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Bliss Corner and North Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9%Lowest MA: 10% |
11% MA: 10% |
12.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 63.4% MA: 62.5% |
63%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
69.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958 6 yrs older than MA |
1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA |
1953Lowest 11 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 24% below MA |
34 min 18% above MA |
37 minHighest 28% above MA |
| Work from home | 8.8%±6.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
15%±7.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
13.1%±4.4 MA: 18.6% |
| Spencer and North Brookfield 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 | — | #261 of 282 in MA | #270 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Spencer-E Brookfield | North Brookfield |
| High school in town | — | David Prouty High | North Brookfield High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.9Highest |
5.5Lowest |
| 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.