Compare towns
Spencer vs Springfield vs Paxton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Spencer has the oldest population (median age 48.9).
Springfield has the most kids (24.2% under 18).
Paxton has the most people working from home (25.5%).
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 | Springfield | Paxton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 12,008 |
154,749Highest |
5,002Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6% MA: +7.4% |
+1.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.9±6.8Highest 22% above MA |
33.7±0.5Lowest 16% below MA |
41.8±3.3 4% above MA |
| Spencer and Paxton 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% |
24.2%±0.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
17.4%±3.6 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 26%±4.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
13.2%±0.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.4%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
| Spencer and Paxton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.1% MA: 47.3% |
20.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
54.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
7.5%±0.5 MA: 7.9% |
15.9%±1.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $80,533±$11k 23% below MA |
$52,656±$2kLowest 49% below MA |
$134,083±$8kHighest 29% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $382,000±$22k 32% below MA |
$245,000±$4kLowest 56% below MA |
$472,300±$29kHighest 16% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,078±$161Lowest 39% below MA |
$1,144±$55 35% below MA |
$1,386±$88Highest 21% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,387 27% below MA |
$3,695Lowest 38% below MA |
$7,129Highest 19% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.6%±10.3 MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±3.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
26.2%±15.7Lowest 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% MA: 10% |
25.8%Highest MA: 10% |
1.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 63% MA: 62.5% |
49.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
91.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA |
1952Lowest 12 yrs older than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 18% above MA |
20 minLowest 31% below MA |
31 min 5% above MA |
| Work from home | 15%±7.3 MA: 18.6% |
8.4%±0.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
25.5%±5.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Paxton and Spencer 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 | #219 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Spencer-E Brookfield | Springfield | Wachusett |
| High school in town | David Prouty High | Springfield Central High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.9Lowest |
12.2Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.