Compare towns
Spencer vs Hardwick vs Charlton
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 people working from home (15%).
Hardwick has the most affordable homes ($347k median).
Charlton has the highest household income ($118k).
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 | Hardwick | Charlton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 12,008 |
2,684Lowest |
13,435Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.9±6.8Highest 22% above MA |
45.3±9.8 13% above MA |
43±4Lowest 8% above MA |
| Spencer and Hardwick 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% |
20.5%±5.6 MA: 19.4% |
24.7%±3.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Charlton and Hardwick 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% |
22.7%±5 MA: 17.9% |
18%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Spencer and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
30.9% MA: 47.3% |
37.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±4.4 MA: 7.9% |
6.8%±2.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Charlton and Hardwick 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 23% below MA |
$75,000±$22kLowest 28% below MA |
$117,587±$8kHighest 13% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $382,000±$22k 32% below MA |
$346,700±$67kLowest 38% below MA |
$427,500±$19kHighest 24% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,078±$161Lowest 39% below MA |
$1,108±$119 37% below MA |
$1,381±$415Highest 22% below MA |
| Charlton and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,387Lowest 27% below MA |
$4,400 27% below MA |
$4,617Highest 23% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.6%±10.3 MA: 51.8% |
59%±13.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
41.3%±9.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Hardwick 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% |
11%Highest MA: 10% |
2.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 63%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
68.2% MA: 62.5% |
84.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 4 yrs newer than MA |
1968Lowest 4 yrs newer than MA |
1985Highest 21 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 18% above MA |
31 minLowest 7% above MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 15%±7.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
8.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
13%±4.2 MA: 18.6% |
| Spencer and Charlton 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 | #163 of 282 in MA | #133 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Spencer-E Brookfield | Quabbin | Dudley-Charlton Reg · Southern Worcester County Regional Vocational School Distric |
| High school in town | David Prouty High | None in town | Bay Path Regional Vocational Technical High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.9Highest |
— | 9.7Lowest |
| 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.