What stands out worked out from the figures below

Spencer has the most affordable homes ($382k median).

Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).

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	Needham
People
Population	12,008Lowest	32,459Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	48.9±6.8Highest 22% above MA	43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA
	Spencer and Needham 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%	27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	26%±4.4Highest MA: 17.9%	17.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	29.1%Lowest MA: 47.3%	81.9%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.2%±2.4Lowest MA: 7.9%	5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9%
	Needham and Spencer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$80,533±$11kLowest 23% below MA	$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$382,000±$22kLowest 32% below MA	$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,078±$161Lowest 39% below MA	$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,387Lowest 27% below MA	$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	50.6%±10.3Lowest MA: 51.8%	55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8%
	Needham 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%	3.7%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	63%Lowest MA: 62.5%	83.1%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA	1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minHighest 18% above MA	28 minLowest 5% below MA
Work from home	15%±7.3Lowest MA: 18.6%	32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#261 of 282 in MA	#19 of 282 in MA
School district	Spencer-E Brookfield	Needham
High school in town	David Prouty High	Needham High
Students per teacherat that high school	9.9Lowest	11.9Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.