Compare towns
Gardner vs Brookline 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
Gardner has the most affordable homes ($302k median).
Brookline has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).
Spencer has the oldest population (median age 48.9).
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 | Gardner | Brookline | Spencer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 21,148Highest |
5,736Lowest |
12,008 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+13%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3 12% above U.S. |
41.2±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
48.9±6.8Highest 26% above U.S. |
| Spencer and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.3%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
26.7%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 19.6%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
11.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Spencer and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
57.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.3%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brookline and Spencer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $67,518±$8kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$171,046±$4kHighest 112% above U.S. |
$80,533±$11k about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $301,600±$20kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$544,400±$38kHighest 64% above U.S. |
$382,000±$22k 15% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,109±$51 22% below U.S. |
$2,500±$1kHighest 77% above U.S. |
$1,078±$161Lowest 24% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,150Lowest 33% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,387 41% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.7%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
23.8%±43.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±10.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Spencer and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 13.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
0.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
63% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 16% above U.S. |
33 min 26% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.3%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15%±7.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Brookline 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 | #273 of 282 in MA | #23 of 120 in NH | #261 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Gardner | Brookline School District | Spencer-E Brookfield |
| High school in town | Gardner High | None in town | 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 |
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.