Compare towns
Gardner vs Dudley vs Spencer
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Gardner has the most affordable homes ($302k median).
Dudley has the most homeowners (73.1%).
Spencer has the most people working from home (15%).
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 | Dudley | Spencer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 21,148Highest |
11,929Lowest |
12,008 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.7% MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3 9% above MA |
40.2±2.4Lowest about the MA average |
48.9±6.8Highest 22% above MA |
| 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 MA: 19.4% |
20.6%±3.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.4%±3.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Dudley and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.6%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
16.9%±3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
26%±4.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
| 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 MA: 47.3% |
24.1% MA: 47.3% |
29.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
13.1%±2Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.2%±2.4 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $67,518±$8kLowest 35% below MA |
$84,604±$12kHighest 19% below MA |
$80,533±$11k 23% below MA |
| Dudley and Spencer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $301,600±$20kLowest 46% below MA |
$392,600±$19kHighest 30% below MA |
$382,000±$22k 32% below MA |
| Dudley and Spencer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,109±$51 37% below MA |
$1,217±$182Highest 31% below MA |
$1,078±$161Lowest 39% below MA |
| Dudley and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,150 31% below MA |
$3,691Lowest 38% below MA |
$4,387Highest 27% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.7%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
47.4%±4.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±10.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
| 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 MA: 10% |
6.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
11% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
63% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 5% above MA |
27 minLowest 6% below MA |
34 minHighest 18% above MA |
| Work from home | 13.3%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
9.1%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
15%±7.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Spencer and Gardner 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 | #142 of 282 in MA | #261 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Gardner | Dudley-Charlton Reg | Spencer-E Brookfield |
| High school in town | Gardner High | Shepherd Hill Regional High | David Prouty High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5 |
14.3Highest |
9.9Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.