What stands out worked out from the figures below

Charlton has the most kids (24.7% under 18).

Spencer has the most renters (37% rent).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Charlton	Spencer
People
Population	13,435Highest	12,008Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.6% MA: +7.4%	+2.6% MA: +7.4%
Median age	43±4Lowest 8% above MA	48.9±6.8Highest 22% above MA
	Spencer and Charlton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	24.7%±3.9Highest MA: 19.4%	16.4%±3.9Lowest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	18%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9%	26%±4.4Highest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	37.6%Highest MA: 47.3%	29.1%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.8%±2.6Highest MA: 7.9%	5.2%±2.4Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Charlton and Spencer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$117,587±$8kHighest 13% above MA	$80,533±$11kLowest 23% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$427,500±$19kHighest 24% below MA	$382,000±$22kLowest 32% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,381±$415Highest 22% below MA	$1,078±$161Lowest 39% below MA
	Charlton and Spencer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,617Highest 23% below MA	$4,387Lowest 27% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	41.3%±9.3Lowest MA: 51.8%	50.6%±10.3Highest MA: 51.8%
	Spencer and Charlton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	2.5%Lowest MA: 10%	11%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.9%Highest MA: 62.5%	63%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1985Highest 21 yrs newer than MA	1968Lowest 4 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minLowest 13% above MA	34 minHighest 18% above MA
Work from home	13%±4.2Lowest MA: 18.6%	15%±7.3Highest MA: 18.6%
	Spencer and Charlton 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	#133 of 282 in MA	#261 of 282 in MA
School district	Dudley-Charlton Reg · Southern Worcester County Regional Vocational School Distric	Spencer-E Brookfield
High school in town	Bay Path Regional Vocational Technical High School	David Prouty High
Students per teacherat that high school	9.7Lowest	9.9Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.