Compare towns
Spencer vs Highgate 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.6%).
Highgate has the most homeowners (80.7%).
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 | Highgate | Adams |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 12,008Highest |
3,528Lowest |
8,074 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.9±6.8Highest 26% above U.S. |
44±7.4Lowest 13% 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%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.8%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Spencer and Highgate 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% |
22.2%±5.2Lowest 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% |
19.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
24.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.6%±2.1Lowest 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±$11k about the U.S. average |
$81,017±$14kHighest about the U.S. average |
$58,929±$6kLowest 27% below U.S. |
| Highgate 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. |
$280,500±$21k 16% below U.S. |
$209,900±$15kLowest 37% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,078±$161Highest 24% below U.S. |
$895±$691Lowest 37% below U.S. |
$963±$74 32% below U.S. |
| Spencer and Adams are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,387Highest 41% above U.S. |
$3,558Lowest 14% above U.S. |
$3,638 17% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.6%±10.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
30.5%±11.3Lowest 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% |
8.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
13.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 63% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
62.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as 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% |
14.9%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.3%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Spencer and Highgate 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 | #43 of 70 in VT | #230 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Spencer-E Brookfield | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Hoosac Valley Regional |
| High school in town | David Prouty High | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.9Highest |
9.8Lowest |
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| 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.