Compare towns
Montague vs Orange 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 shortest commute (21 min average).
Orange has the most kids (22.2% under 18).
Spencer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.6%).
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 | Orange | Spencer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,482 |
7,573Lowest |
12,008Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7% MA: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±3.1 11% above MA |
41.8±2.2Lowest 4% 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% |
22.2%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.4%±3.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Orange and Montague are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.5%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
20.3%±3.1Lowest 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%Highest MA: 47.3% |
15.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
29.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
2%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.2%±2.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Spencer and Montague are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $70,510±$12k 32% below MA |
$55,824±$10kLowest 46% below MA |
$80,533±$11kHighest 23% below MA |
| Spencer and Montague are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $282,100±$17k 50% below MA |
$245,900±$18kLowest 56% below MA |
$382,000±$22kHighest 32% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,207±$115Highest 31% below MA |
$775±$233Lowest 56% below MA |
$1,078±$161 39% below MA |
| Montague and Spencer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,922Lowest 35% below MA |
$4,136 31% below MA |
$4,387Highest 27% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64.6%±8.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
41%±11.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±10.3 MA: 51.8% |
| Montague and Spencer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.5% MA: 10% |
22.4%Highest MA: 10% |
11%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
70%Highest MA: 62.5% |
63% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1951Lowest 13 yrs older than MA |
1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 28% below MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
34 minHighest 18% above MA |
| Work from home | 14.9%±4.2 MA: 18.6% |
6.6%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
15%±7.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Spencer and Montague 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 | #265 of 282 in MA | #275 of 282 in MA | #261 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Franklin County Regional Vocational Technical · Gill-Montague | Orange · Ralph C Mahar | Spencer-E Brookfield |
| High school in town | Franklin County Technical | Ralph C Mahar Regional | David Prouty High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.7Highest |
9.0Lowest |
9.9 |
| 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.