What stands out worked out from the figures below

Spencer has the most people working from home (15%).

Springfield has the most kids (24.2% under 18).

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	Springfield
People
Population	12,008Lowest	154,749Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.6%Highest MA: +7.4%	+1.9%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	48.9±6.8Highest 22% above MA	33.7±0.5Lowest 16% below MA
Kids under 18	16.4%±3.9Lowest MA: 19.4%	24.2%±0.9Highest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	26%±4.4Highest MA: 17.9%	13.2%±0.7Lowest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	29.1%Highest MA: 47.3%	20.5%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.2%±2.4Lowest MA: 7.9%	7.5%±0.5Highest MA: 7.9%
	Springfield 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±$11kHighest 23% below MA	$52,656±$2kLowest 49% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$382,000±$22kHighest 32% below MA	$245,000±$4kLowest 56% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,078±$161Lowest 39% below MA	$1,144±$55Highest 35% below MA
	Springfield and Spencer 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	$3,695Lowest 38% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	50.6%±10.3Lowest MA: 51.8%	57.7%±3.1Highest MA: 51.8%
	Springfield 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%	25.8%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	63%Highest MA: 62.5%	49.6%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA	1952Lowest 12 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minHighest 18% above MA	20 minLowest 31% below MA
Work from home	15%±7.3Highest MA: 18.6%	8.4%±0.9Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Spencer and Springfield 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	#276 of 282 in MA
School district	Spencer-E Brookfield	Springfield
High school in town	David Prouty High	Springfield Central High
Students per teacherat that high school	9.9Lowest	12.2Highest
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.