Compare towns
Proctor vs Spencer vs Fairfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Proctor has the most affordable homes ($210k median).
Spencer has the most people working from home (15%).
Fairfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.1%).
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 | Proctor | Spencer | Fairfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,794Lowest |
12,008Highest |
1,938 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±6.4 9% above U.S. |
48.9±6.8Highest 26% above U.S. |
42.3±2.7Lowest 9% above U.S. |
| Spencer and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
25.4%±5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Fairfield and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.4%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
26%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Spencer and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
30.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Spencer and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $74,167±$12kLowest 8% below U.S. |
$80,533±$11k about the U.S. average |
$87,019±$22kHighest 8% above U.S. |
| Fairfield and Spencer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $209,900±$17kLowest 37% below U.S. |
$382,000±$22kHighest 15% above U.S. |
$320,600±$22k 4% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,029±$202Lowest 27% below U.S. |
$1,078±$161Highest 24% below U.S. |
$1,056±$441 25% below U.S. |
| Spencer and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,032Lowest 29% above U.S. |
$4,387 41% above U.S. |
$4,816Highest 54% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.3%±16.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±10.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
29.2%±20.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Spencer and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 16.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
11% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
63%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 16% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
24 min 8% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.4%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
15%±7.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Spencer and Proctor 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 | — | #261 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70 | Spencer-E Brookfield | Maple Run Unified Union School District #57 |
| High school in town | Proctor Junior/Senior High School | David Prouty High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.7Lowest |
9.9Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.