Compare towns
Spencer vs Springfield vs Worcester vs Adams
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 most people working from home (15%).
Springfield has the most kids (24.2% under 18).
Worcester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.1%).
Adams has the most affordable homes ($210k median).
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 | Worcester | Adams |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 12,008 |
154,749 |
207,055Highest |
8,074Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6% MA: +7.4% |
+1.9% MA: +7.4% |
+14.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-3.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.9±6.8Highest 22% above MA |
33.7±0.5Lowest 16% below MA |
33.9±0.5 15% below MA |
47.3±3.3 18% above MA |
| Spencer and Adams are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.4%±3.9 MA: 19.4% |
24.2%±0.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±0.8 MA: 19.4% |
15.7%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 26%±4.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
13.2%±0.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
13.3%±0.6 MA: 17.9% |
25.2%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
| Spencer and Adams 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% |
35.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.4 MA: 7.9% |
7.5%±0.5 MA: 7.9% |
14.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $80,533±$11kHighest 23% below MA |
$52,656±$2kLowest 49% below MA |
$70,102±$2k 33% below MA |
$58,929±$6k 43% below MA |
| Spencer and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $382,000±$22kHighest 32% below MA |
$245,000±$4k 56% below MA |
$374,400±$7k 33% below MA |
$209,900±$15kLowest 63% below MA |
| Spencer and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,078±$161 39% below MA |
$1,144±$55 35% below MA |
$1,487±$38Highest 16% below MA |
$963±$74Lowest 45% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,387 27% below MA |
$3,695 38% below MA |
$4,733Highest 21% below MA |
$3,638Lowest 39% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.6%±10.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±3.1 MA: 51.8% |
54.2%±2.9 MA: 51.8% |
62.1%±10.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Adams and Springfield 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% |
19.6% MA: 10% |
13.2% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 63%Highest MA: 62.5% |
49.6% MA: 62.5% |
42.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
62.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA |
1952 12 yrs older than MA |
1951 13 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 18% above MA |
20 minLowest 31% below MA |
24 min 17% below MA |
24 min 19% below MA |
| Work from home | 15%±7.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
8.4%±0.9 MA: 18.6% |
11.5%±1 MA: 18.6% |
8.3%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Spencer and Worcester 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 | #266 of 282 in MA | #230 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Spencer-E Brookfield | Springfield | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | Hoosac Valley Regional |
| High school in town | David Prouty High | Springfield Central High | South High Community | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.9Lowest |
12.2 |
14.6Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.