What stands out worked out from the figures below

Spencer has the oldest population (median age 48.9).

Clinton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.4%).

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	Spencer	Clinton
People
Population	12,008Lowest	15,563Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+13.4%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	48.9±6.8Highest 22% above MA	38.6±2.7Lowest 4% below MA
Kids under 18	16.4%±3.9Lowest MA: 19.4%	17.8%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4%
	Clinton and Spencer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	26%±4.4Highest MA: 17.9%	14.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	29.1%Lowest MA: 47.3%	36.6%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.2%±2.4Lowest MA: 7.9%	6.9%±2Highest MA: 7.9%
	Clinton and Spencer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$80,533±$11kLowest 23% below MA	$89,781±$10kHighest 14% below MA
	Clinton and Spencer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$382,000±$22kLowest 32% below MA	$387,300±$19kHighest 31% below MA
	Clinton and Spencer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,078±$161Lowest 39% below MA	$1,402±$76Highest 20% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,387Lowest 27% below MA	$4,654Highest 22% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	50.6%±10.3Highest MA: 51.8%	40.3%±6.4Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Spencer and Clinton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	11%Highest MA: 10%	8.6%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	63%Highest MA: 62.5%	54.7%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA	1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minHighest 18% above MA	30 minLowest about the MA average
Work from home	15%±7.3Highest MA: 18.6%	14.2%±4.2Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Spencer and Clinton 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	#246 of 282 in MA
School district	Spencer-E Brookfield	Clinton
High school in town	David Prouty High	Clinton Senior High
Students per teacherat that high school	9.9Lowest	12.8Highest
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.