What stands out worked out from the figures below

Montague has the shortest commute (21 min average).

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.

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

Measure	Montague	Spencer
People
Population	8,482Lowest	12,008Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.7%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+2.6%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	44.3±3.1Lowest 11% 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%±2.8Highest MA: 19.4%	16.4%±3.9Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Montague and Spencer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	23.5%±3.2Lowest 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%	29.1%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.7%±1.3Lowest 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±$12kLowest 32% 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±$17kLowest 50% below MA	$382,000±$22kHighest 32% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,207±$115Highest 31% below MA	$1,078±$161Lowest 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	$4,387Highest 27% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	64.6%±8.6Highest MA: 51.8%	50.6%±10.3Lowest 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%Highest MA: 10%	11%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	62.7%Lowest MA: 62.5%	63%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1951Lowest 13 yrs older than MA	1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	21 minLowest 28% below MA	34 minHighest 18% above MA
Work from home	14.9%±4.2Lowest 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	#261 of 282 in MA
School district	Franklin County Regional Vocational Technical · Gill-Montague	Spencer-E Brookfield
High school in town	Franklin County Technical	David Prouty High
Students per teacherat that high school	11.7Highest	9.9Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.