Compare towns
Paxton vs Gardner vs Spencer
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Paxton has the most people working from home (25.5%).
Gardner has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.2%).
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 | Paxton | Gardner | Spencer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,002Lowest |
21,148Highest |
12,008 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1% MA: +7.4% |
+5.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±3.3Lowest 4% above MA |
43.7±2.3 9% above MA |
48.9±6.8Highest 22% above MA |
| Spencer and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.4%±3.6 MA: 19.4% |
18.3%±2.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.4%±3.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Gardner and Paxton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.4%±3.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.6%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
26%±4.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Spencer and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
23.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
29.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15.9%±1.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.2%±2.4 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $134,083±$8kHighest 29% above MA |
$67,518±$8kLowest 35% below MA |
$80,533±$11k 23% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $472,300±$29kHighest 16% below MA |
$301,600±$20kLowest 46% below MA |
$382,000±$22k 32% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,386±$88Highest 21% below MA |
$1,109±$51 37% below MA |
$1,078±$161Lowest 39% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,129Highest 19% above MA |
$4,150Lowest 31% below MA |
$4,387 27% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.2%±15.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
49.7%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±10.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Spencer and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 1.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
13.7%Highest MA: 10% |
11% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
58.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
63% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 5% above MA |
31 minLowest 5% above MA |
34 minHighest 18% above MA |
| Work from home | 25.5%±5.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
13.3%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
15%±7.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Paxton 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 | #219 of 282 in MA | #273 of 282 in MA | #261 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Wachusett | Gardner | Spencer-E Brookfield |
| High school in town | None in town | Gardner High | David Prouty High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.5Highest |
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.