Compare towns
Spencer vs Griswold 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%).
Griswold has the most homeowners (73.3%).
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 | Griswold | Adams |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 12,008Highest |
11,530 |
8,074Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.9±6.8Highest 26% above U.S. |
48.1±3.9 24% above U.S. |
47.3±3.3Lowest 22% above U.S. |
| Spencer and Griswold 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% |
18.5%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Griswold and Spencer 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% |
17.8%±3.5Lowest 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
19.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
24.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±1.1Lowest 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±$11kHighest about the U.S. average |
$78,719±$11k about the U.S. average |
$58,929±$6kLowest 27% below U.S. |
| Spencer and Griswold 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. |
$275,900±$42k 17% below U.S. |
$209,900±$15kLowest 37% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,078±$161 24% below U.S. |
$1,177±$65Highest 17% below U.S. |
$963±$74Lowest 32% below U.S. |
| Griswold and Spencer 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. |
$4,628Highest 48% above U.S. |
$3,638Lowest 17% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.6%±10.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.5%±15.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
62.1%±10.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Adams and Griswold 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% |
7.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
13.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 63% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
62.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 15%±7.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.3%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Spencer and Griswold 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 | #118 of 149 in CT | #230 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Spencer-E Brookfield | Griswold School District | Hoosac Valley Regional |
| High school in town | David Prouty High | Griswold High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.9Lowest |
11.5Highest |
— |
| 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.