Compare towns
Gardner vs Rowe 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 shortest commute (31 min average).
Rowe has the most homeowners (90.8%).
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 | Rowe | Spencer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 21,148Highest |
453Lowest |
12,008 |
| 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 |
48.9±6.4Highest 22% above MA |
48.9±6.8Highest 22% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 18.3%±2.3 MA: 19.4% |
23%±5Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.4%±3.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Rowe and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.6%±2.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
30.2%±8.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
26%±4.4 MA: 17.9% |
| Rowe 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 MA: 47.3% |
26.2% MA: 47.3% |
29.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
3.3%±2Lowest 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±$8kLowest 35% below MA |
$69,583±$13k 33% below MA |
$80,533±$11kHighest 23% below MA |
| Spencer and Rowe 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 |
$275,000±$41kLowest 51% below MA |
$382,000±$22kHighest 32% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,109±$51 37% below MA |
$1,313±$576Highest 25% below MA |
$1,078±$161Lowest 39% below MA |
| Rowe 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 |
$1,458Lowest 76% below MA |
$4,387Highest 27% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.7%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
11.8%±100Lowest 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% MA: 10% |
15.8%Highest MA: 10% |
11%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
90.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
63% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
1959 5 yrs older than MA |
1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 5% above MA |
36 minHighest 22% above MA |
34 min 18% above MA |
| Work from home | 13.3%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
7.2%±3.8Lowest 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 | — | #261 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Gardner | Rowe | 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 |
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.