Compare towns
Gardner vs Morris 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).
Morris has the most homeowners (89.4%).
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 | Morris | Spencer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 21,148Highest |
2,164Lowest |
12,008 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3Lowest 12% above U.S. |
52.8±6.5Highest 36% above U.S. |
48.9±6.8 26% above U.S. |
| Morris 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% |
17.9%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Gardner and Morris 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% |
29.3%±6.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
26%±4.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Morris 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% |
41.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $67,518±$8kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$109,191±$25kHighest 35% above U.S. |
$80,533±$11k about the U.S. average |
| Morris 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 9% below U.S. |
$396,000±$60kHighest 19% above U.S. |
$382,000±$22k 15% above U.S. |
| Morris 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 22% below U.S. |
$1,204±$134Highest 15% below U.S. |
$1,078±$161Lowest 24% below U.S. |
| Morris and Gardner 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. |
$5,273Highest 69% above U.S. |
$4,387 41% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.7%±8.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±31.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±10.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Morris and Spencer 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% |
6.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
63% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Highest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 11% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.3%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.4%±5.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15%±7.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Morris 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 | — | #261 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Gardner | Regional School District 20 | 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.