Compare towns
Spencer vs Putnam vs Charlton
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%).
Putnam has the most affordable homes ($269k 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 | Putnam | Charlton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 12,008 |
9,292Lowest |
13,435Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.9±6.8Highest 26% above U.S. |
43.7±3 12% above U.S. |
43±4Lowest 11% above U.S. |
| Spencer and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.4%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
24.7%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Charlton and Putnam 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% |
18.5%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
18%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Spencer and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.8%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Charlton 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±$11k about the U.S. average |
$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$117,587±$8kHighest 46% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $382,000±$22k 15% above U.S. |
$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$427,500±$19kHighest 28% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,078±$161Lowest 24% below U.S. |
$1,149±$44 19% below U.S. |
$1,381±$415Highest about the U.S. average |
| Charlton and Putnam 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. |
$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S. |
$4,617Highest 48% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.6%±10.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.3%±9.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Spencer and Charlton 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% |
11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 63% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
33 min 24% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15%±7.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #128 of 149 in CT | #133 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Spencer-E Brookfield | Putnam School District | Dudley-Charlton Reg · Southern Worcester County Regional Vocational School Distric |
| High school in town | David Prouty High | Putnam High School | Bay Path Regional Vocational Technical High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.9Highest |
9.5Lowest |
9.7 |
| 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.