Compare towns
Spencer vs Gardner vs Adams
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 expensive homes ($382k median).
Gardner has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.2%).
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 | Gardner | Adams |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 12,008 |
21,148Highest |
8,074Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6% MA: +7.4% |
+5.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-3.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.9±6.8Highest 22% above MA |
43.7±2.3Lowest 9% above MA |
47.3±3.3 18% above MA |
| 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 MA: 19.4% |
18.3%±2.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.7%±3.3Lowest 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% |
25.2%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
| 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%Highest MA: 47.3% |
23.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
24.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1.9Lowest 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±$8k 35% below MA |
$58,929±$6kLowest 43% 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±$20k 46% below MA |
$209,900±$15kLowest 63% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,078±$161 39% below MA |
$1,109±$51Highest 37% below MA |
$963±$74Lowest 45% 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 |
$4,150 31% below MA |
$3,638Lowest 39% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.6%±10.3 MA: 51.8% |
49.7%±8.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
62.1%±10.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Adams and Spencer 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% |
13.2% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 63%Highest MA: 62.5% |
58.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
62.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA |
1954 10 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 18% above MA |
31 min 5% above MA |
24 minLowest 19% below MA |
| Work from home | 15%±7.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
13.3%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
8.3%±2.8Lowest 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 | #230 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Spencer-E Brookfield | Gardner | Hoosac Valley Regional |
| High school in town | David Prouty High | Gardner High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.9Lowest |
13.5Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.