Compare towns
Gardner vs Spencer vs Ware
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
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).
Ware has the most homeowners (72.3%).
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 | Spencer | Ware |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 21,148Highest |
12,008 |
10,048Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6% MA: +7.4% |
+2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3 9% above MA |
48.9±6.8Highest 22% above MA |
43.1±4.7Lowest 8% 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% |
16.4%±3.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Ware 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% |
26%±4.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
| Spencer and Ware 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% |
24% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
5.2%±2.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2Lowest 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 |
$80,533±$11kHighest 23% below MA |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% 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 |
$382,000±$22kHighest 32% below MA |
$289,700±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,109±$51Highest 37% below MA |
$1,078±$161 39% below MA |
$1,043±$109Lowest 41% 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 |
$4,237 29% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.7%±8.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±10.3 MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Ware 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 MA: 10% |
11%Lowest MA: 10% |
11.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
63% MA: 62.5% |
72.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 5% above MA |
34 minHighest 18% above MA |
28 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 13.3%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
15%±7.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8Lowest 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 | #267 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Gardner | Spencer-E Brookfield | Ware |
| High school in town | Gardner High | David Prouty High | Ware Junior/Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
9.9Lowest |
11.1 |
| 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.