What stands out worked out from the figures below

Spencer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.6%).

Holyoke has the shortest commute (19 min average).

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	Holyoke
People
Population	12,008Lowest	37,813Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.6%Highest MA: +7.4%	-4.1%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	48.9±6.8Highest 22% above MA	40±1.6Lowest about the MA average
Kids under 18	16.4%±3.9Lowest MA: 19.4%	21.4%±1.9Highest MA: 19.4%
	Holyoke 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%	20.1%±1.6Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Spencer and Holyoke 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%	25.9%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.2%±2.4Highest MA: 7.9%	3.4%±0.8Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Spencer and Holyoke 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	$53,605±$3kLowest 48% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$382,000±$22kHighest 32% below MA	$274,100±$8kLowest 51% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,078±$161Highest 39% below MA	$1,021±$60Lowest 42% below MA
	Spencer and Holyoke 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	$4,065Lowest 32% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	50.6%±10.3Lowest MA: 51.8%	51.7%±5.4Highest MA: 51.8%
	Holyoke 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%	27%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	63%Highest MA: 62.5%	41.3%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA	1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minHighest 18% above MA	19 minLowest 34% below MA
Work from home	15%±7.3Highest MA: 18.6%	11.1%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Spencer and Holyoke 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	#281 of 282 in MA
School district	Spencer-E Brookfield	Holyoke · Springfield
High school in town	David Prouty High	Holyoke High
Students per teacherat that high school	9.9Lowest	12.5Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.