Compare towns
Spencer vs Dover
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Spencer has the most affordable homes ($382k median).
Dover has the most expensive homes ($1308k median).
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 | Dover |
|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||
| People | ||
| Population | 12,008Highest |
2,308Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.9±6.8Highest 22% above MA |
47.5±4Lowest 19% above MA |
| Spencer and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Kids under 18 | 16.4%±3.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.9%±4.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Dover 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% |
15.5%±3.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
83.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
9.4%±4.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Dover 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 |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $382,000±$22kLowest 32% below MA |
$1,308,300±$149kHighest 133% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,078±$161 39% below MA |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,387Lowest 27% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.6%±10.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Dover and Spencer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Below poverty line | 11%Highest MA: 10% |
3.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 63%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA |
1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minLowest 18% above MA |
37 minHighest 26% above MA |
| Work from home | 15%±7.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
37.4%±8.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #261 of 282 in MA | #1 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Spencer-E Brookfield | — |
| High school in town | David Prouty High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.9 |
— |
| 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.