Compare towns
Gardner vs Chester 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.2%).
Chester has the most homeowners (86.7%).
Spencer has the most expensive homes ($382k 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 | Gardner | Chester | Spencer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 21,148Highest |
2,992Lowest |
12,008 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3Lowest 12% above U.S. |
49.7±4.7Highest 28% above U.S. |
48.9±6.8 26% above U.S. |
| Chester and Spencer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.3%±2.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Gardner and Spencer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.6%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.8%±7.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
26%±4.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Chester and Spencer 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% |
33.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Spencer and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $67,518±$8k 16% below U.S. |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below U.S. |
$80,533±$11kHighest about the U.S. average |
| Spencer and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $301,600±$20k 9% below U.S. |
$232,900±$44kLowest 30% below U.S. |
$382,000±$22kHighest 15% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,109±$51Highest 22% below U.S. |
$960±$44Lowest 32% below U.S. |
$1,078±$161 24% below U.S. |
| Gardner and Spencer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,150Lowest 33% above U.S. |
$4,262 37% above U.S. |
$4,387Highest 41% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.7%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest 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% |
7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
63% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Highest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.3%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
15%±7.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Spencer and Chester 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 | #49 of 70 in VT | #261 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Gardner | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Spencer-E Brookfield |
| High school in town | Gardner High | Green Mountain Union High School | David Prouty High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
8.7Lowest |
9.9 |
| 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.