Compare towns
Spencer vs Danielson vs Charlton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Spencer has the most people working from home (15%).
Danielson has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Charlton has the highest household income ($118k).
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 | Spencer | Danielson | Charlton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 12,008 |
4,209Lowest |
13,435Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.9±6.8Highest 26% above U.S. |
34.5±3.6Lowest 11% below U.S. |
43±4 11% above U.S. |
| Spencer and Charlton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.4%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±6.1 U.S.: 22% |
24.7%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Charlton and Danielson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13.6%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
11.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
9.2%±6.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.8%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Danielson and Charlton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $80,533±$11k about the U.S. average |
$64,050±$15kLowest 21% below U.S. |
$117,587±$8kHighest 46% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $382,000±$22k 15% above U.S. |
$224,600±$13kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$427,500±$19kHighest 28% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,078±$161Lowest 24% below U.S. |
$1,235±$194 13% below U.S. |
$1,381±$415Highest about the U.S. average |
| Charlton and Danielson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,387 41% above U.S. |
$4,009Lowest 29% above U.S. |
$4,617Highest 48% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.6%±10.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.7%±17.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.3%±9.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Spencer and Danielson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11% U.S.: 12.5% |
21.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 63% U.S.: 65.2% |
53%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1951Lowest 29 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 8% above U.S. |
33 min 24% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15%±7.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.6%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Spencer and Charlton 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 | — | #133 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Spencer-E Brookfield | — | Dudley-Charlton Reg · Southern Worcester County Regional Vocational School Distric |
| High school in town | David Prouty High | — | Bay Path Regional Vocational Technical High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.9Highest |
— | 9.7Lowest |
| 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.