Compare towns
Montague vs Upton vs Erving 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).
Upton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).
Erving has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
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 | Upton | Erving | Spencer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,482 |
8,189 |
1,703Lowest |
12,008Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7% MA: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-7.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±3.1 11% above MA |
46.4±4.8 16% above MA |
43.3±2.4Lowest 8% above MA |
48.9±6.8Highest 22% above MA |
| Spencer and Upton 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% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.3%±3.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
16.4%±3.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Upton 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% |
20.7%±4.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.6%±2.4 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% |
53.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
29.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
2.8%±1.3 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 |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$77,656±$9k 25% below MA |
$80,533±$11k 23% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $282,100±$17k 50% below MA |
$576,700±$41kHighest about the MA average |
$271,800±$20kLowest 52% below MA |
$382,000±$22k 32% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,207±$115Highest 31% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,163±$213 34% below MA |
$1,078±$161 39% below MA |
| Montague and Erving are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,922 35% below MA |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$1,870Lowest 69% below MA |
$4,387 27% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64.6%±8.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
46.5%±23Lowest MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±10.3 MA: 51.8% |
| Montague and Upton 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% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.2% MA: 10% |
11% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
81.5% MA: 62.5% |
63% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1951Lowest 13 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1957 7 yrs older than MA |
1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 28% below MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
28 min 4% below MA |
34 min 18% above MA |
| Work from home | 14.9%±4.2 MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
3.6%±2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
15%±7.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Upton and Spencer 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 | #46 of 282 in MA | — | #261 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Franklin County Regional Vocational Technical · Gill-Montague | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Erving | Spencer-E Brookfield |
| High school in town | Franklin County Technical | Blackstone Valley | None in town | David Prouty High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.7Highest |
11.2 |
— | 9.9Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.