Compare towns
Montague vs Needham vs Spencer
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Montague has the most affordable homes ($282k median).
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Spencer has the oldest population (median age 48.9).
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 | Montague | Needham | Spencer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,482Lowest |
32,459Highest |
12,008 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±3.1 11% above MA |
43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA |
48.9±6.8Highest 22% above MA |
| Spencer and Montague are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19%±2.8 MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.4%±3.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 23.5%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
26%±4.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Spencer and Montague are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.5% MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
29.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.2%±2.4 MA: 7.9% |
| Needham and Spencer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $70,510±$12kLowest 32% below MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$80,533±$11k 23% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $282,100±$17kLowest 50% below MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$382,000±$22k 32% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,207±$115 31% below MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,078±$161Lowest 39% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,922Lowest 35% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$4,387 27% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64.6%±8.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±10.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Montague and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.5%Highest MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
11% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
63% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1951Lowest 13 yrs older than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 28% below MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
34 minHighest 18% above MA |
| Work from home | 14.9%±4.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
15%±7.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #265 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #261 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Franklin County Regional Vocational Technical · Gill-Montague | Needham | Spencer-E Brookfield |
| High school in town | Franklin County Technical | Needham High | David Prouty High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.7 |
11.9Highest |
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.