Compare towns
Gardner vs Stafford 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 renters (41.1% rent).
Stafford has the most homeowners (79.5%).
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 | Stafford | Spencer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 21,148Highest |
11,511Lowest |
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. |
46.7±4.8 20% above U.S. |
48.9±6.8Highest 26% above U.S. |
| Spencer and Stafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.3%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
21.5%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Stafford 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
22%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
26%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Spencer and Stafford 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% |
28.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
29.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 16% below U.S. |
$93,235±$16kHighest 15% above U.S. |
$80,533±$11k about the U.S. average |
| Stafford 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±$20k 9% below U.S. |
$263,800±$22kLowest 21% below U.S. |
$382,000±$22kHighest 15% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,109±$51Highest 22% below U.S. |
$1,086±$85 23% below U.S. |
$1,078±$161Lowest 24% below U.S. |
| Gardner and Stafford 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. |
$5,131Highest 65% above U.S. |
$4,387 41% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.7%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.5%±12.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±10.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
7.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
63% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1970Highest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.3%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
11%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15%±7.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #96 of 149 in CT | #261 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Gardner | Stafford School District | Spencer-E Brookfield |
| High school in town | Gardner High | Stafford High School | David Prouty High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
9.8Lowest |
9.9 |
| 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.