What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Rowley has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.2%).

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	Rowley
People
Population	12,008Highest	6,251Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+5.2%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	48.9±6.8Lowest 22% above MA	50±6.3Highest 25% above MA
	Rowley and Spencer 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%	19.3%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4%
	Rowley 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%	21.6%±4.1Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Spencer and Rowley 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%	56.8%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.2%±2.4Highest MA: 7.9%	4.8%±2.2Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Spencer and Rowley 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	$132,734±$32kHighest 28% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$382,000±$22kLowest 32% below MA	$667,300±$52kHighest 19% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,078±$161Lowest 39% below MA	$1,603±$520Highest 9% below MA
	Rowley and Spencer 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	$8,309Highest 39% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	50.6%±10.3Lowest MA: 51.8%	57.7%±27.3Highest MA: 51.8%
	Rowley 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%	3.1%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	63%Lowest MA: 62.5%	81.7%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1968Lowest 4 yrs newer than MA	1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minHighest 18% above MA	28 minLowest 3% below MA
Work from home	15%±7.3Highest MA: 18.6%	11.1%±4Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Spencer and Rowley 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	#214 of 282 in MA
School district	Spencer-E Brookfield	Triton
High school in town	David Prouty High	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	9.9	—
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.