What stands out worked out from the figures below

Spencer has the most expensive homes ($382k median).

Gardner has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.2%).

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	Gardner
People
Population	12,008Lowest	21,148Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+5.2%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	48.9±6.8Highest 22% above MA	43.7±2.3Lowest 9% above MA
	Spencer and Gardner 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%	18.3%±2.3Highest MA: 19.4%
	Gardner 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%	19.6%±2.2Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Spencer and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	29.1%Highest MA: 47.3%	23.8%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.2%±2.4Highest MA: 7.9%	4.6%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Spencer and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$80,533±$11kHighest 23% below MA	$67,518±$8kLowest 35% below MA
	Spencer and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$382,000±$22kHighest 32% below MA	$301,600±$20kLowest 46% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,078±$161Lowest 39% below MA	$1,109±$51Highest 37% below MA
	Gardner and Spencer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,387Highest 27% below MA	$4,150Lowest 31% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	50.6%±10.3Highest MA: 51.8%	49.7%±8.6Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Spencer and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	11%Lowest MA: 10%	13.7%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	63%Highest MA: 62.5%	58.9%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA	1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minHighest 18% above MA	31 minLowest 5% above MA
Work from home	15%±7.3Highest MA: 18.6%	13.3%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Spencer and Gardner 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	#273 of 282 in MA
School district	Spencer-E Brookfield	Gardner
High school in town	David Prouty High	Gardner High
Students per teacherat that high school	9.9Lowest	13.5Highest
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.