Compare towns
Gardner vs Greenfield 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 youngest population (median age 43.7).
Greenfield has the shortest commute (17 min average).
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 | Greenfield | Spencer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 21,148Highest |
17,664 |
12,008Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
— | +2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3Lowest 9% above MA |
44.6±2.1 12% above MA |
48.9±6.8Highest 22% above MA |
| Spencer and Greenfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.3%±2.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.3%±1.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.4%±3.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 19.6%±2.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
23.4%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
26%±4.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Spencer and Greenfield 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% |
39.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
29.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.2%±2.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Spencer and Gardner 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 35% below MA |
$55,614±$7kLowest 47% below MA |
$80,533±$11kHighest 23% below MA |
| 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 46% below MA |
$263,100±$16kLowest 53% below MA |
$382,000±$22kHighest 32% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,109±$51Highest 37% below MA |
$1,107±$67 37% below MA |
$1,078±$161Lowest 39% below MA |
| Gardner and Greenfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,150Lowest 31% below MA |
$4,769Highest 20% below MA |
$4,387 27% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.7%±8.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
63.2%±7.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±10.3 MA: 51.8% |
| Greenfield and Spencer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 13.7% MA: 10% |
15.2%Highest MA: 10% |
11%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.9% MA: 62.5% |
55.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
63%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954 10 yrs older than MA |
1947Lowest 17 yrs older than MA |
1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 5% above MA |
17 minLowest 40% below MA |
34 minHighest 18% above MA |
| Work from home | 13.3%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
11.9%±2.4Lowest 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 | #257 of 282 in MA | #261 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Gardner | Greenfield | Spencer-E Brookfield |
| High school in town | Gardner High | Greenfield High | David Prouty High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
10.9 |
9.9Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.