Compare towns
Spencer vs Fairfield vs Adams
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%).
Fairfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.1%).
Adams has the most affordable homes ($210k 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 | Fairfield | Adams |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 12,008Highest |
1,938Lowest |
8,074 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.9±6.8Highest 26% above U.S. |
42.3±2.7Lowest 9% above U.S. |
47.3±3.3 22% above U.S. |
| Spencer and Adams are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.4%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
25.4%±5Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 26%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.2%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Spencer and Adams are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
30.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
24.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Spencer and Adams 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 |
$87,019±$22kHighest 8% above U.S. |
$58,929±$6kLowest 27% below 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 | $382,000±$22kHighest 15% above U.S. |
$320,600±$22k 4% below U.S. |
$209,900±$15kLowest 37% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,078±$161Highest 24% below U.S. |
$1,056±$441 25% below U.S. |
$963±$74Lowest 32% 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 | $4,387 41% above U.S. |
$4,816Highest 54% above U.S. |
$3,638Lowest 17% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.6%±10.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
29.2%±20.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
62.1%±10.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Adams and Spencer 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% |
5.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
13.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 63% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
62.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
24 min 8% below U.S. |
24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 15%±7.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.3%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Spencer and Adams 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 | — | #230 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Spencer-E Brookfield | Maple Run Unified Union School District #57 | Hoosac Valley Regional |
| High school in town | David Prouty High | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.9 |
— | — |
| 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.