What stands out worked out from the figures below

Douglas has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).

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	Douglas	Spencer
People
Population	9,207Lowest	12,008Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6%Highest MA: +7.4%	+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	44±2.6Lowest 10% above MA	48.9±6.8Highest 22% above MA
	Spencer and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.2%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4%	16.4%±3.9Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Douglas and Spencer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	15.4%±3.1Lowest MA: 17.9%	26%±4.4Highest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	41.7%Highest MA: 47.3%	29.1%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.4%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9%	5.2%±2.4Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Douglas and Spencer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$152,267±$10kHighest 46% above MA	$80,533±$11kLowest 23% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$470,600±$29kHighest 16% below MA	$382,000±$22kLowest 32% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,503±$697Highest 15% below MA	$1,078±$161Lowest 39% below MA
	Douglas and Spencer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,338Highest 6% above MA	$4,387Lowest 27% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	33.9%±17.4Lowest MA: 51.8%	50.6%±10.3Highest MA: 51.8%
	Spencer and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.8%Lowest MA: 10%	11%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	83.8%Highest MA: 62.5%	63%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA	1968Lowest 4 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minLowest 16% above MA	34 minHighest 18% above MA
Work from home	20.9%±4.9Highest MA: 18.6%	15%±7.3Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Douglas 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	#177 of 282 in MA	#261 of 282 in MA
School district	Douglas	Spencer-E Brookfield
High school in town	Douglas High School	David Prouty High
Students per teacherat that high school	7.2Lowest	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.