What stands out worked out from the figures below

Gardner has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.2%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Gardner	Spencer
People
Population	21,148Highest	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	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%±2.3Highest MA: 19.4%	16.4%±3.9Lowest MA: 19.4%
	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 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%	29.1%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.6%±1.3Lowest 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	$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±$20kLowest 46% below MA	$382,000±$22kHighest 32% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,109±$51Highest 37% below MA	$1,078±$161Lowest 39% below MA
	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 31% below MA	$4,387Highest 27% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	49.7%±8.6Lowest 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%	11%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	58.9%Lowest MA: 62.5%	63%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA	1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minLowest 5% above MA	34 minHighest 18% above MA
Work from home	13.3%±3.6Lowest 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	Spencer-E Brookfield
High school in town	Gardner High	David Prouty High
Students per teacherat that high school	13.5Highest	9.9Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.