Compare towns
Spencer vs Stow 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 most renters (37% rent).
Stow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.9%).
Paxton has the shortest commute (31 min average).
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 | Stow | Paxton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 12,008Highest |
7,165 |
5,002Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.9±6.8Highest 22% above MA |
44.1±4.4 10% above MA |
41.8±3.3Lowest 4% above MA |
| Spencer and Stow 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% |
22.3%±4.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
17.4%±3.6 MA: 19.4% |
| Stow and Paxton 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% |
19.1%±3.5 MA: 17.9% |
18.4%±3.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Spencer and Stow 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% |
75.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
54.7% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.4 MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
15.9%±1.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $80,533±$11kLowest 23% below MA |
$185,809±$22kHighest 79% above MA |
$134,083±$8k 29% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $382,000±$22kLowest 32% below MA |
$729,600±$39kHighest 30% above MA |
$472,300±$29k 16% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,078±$161Lowest 39% below MA |
$1,782±$126Highest about the MA average |
$1,386±$88 21% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,387Lowest 27% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$7,129 19% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.6%±10.3 MA: 51.8% |
59.7%±44.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
26.2%±15.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Stow 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% |
5.2% MA: 10% |
1.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 63%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.4% MA: 62.5% |
91.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 18% above MA |
36 minHighest 23% above MA |
31 minLowest 5% above MA |
| Work from home | 15%±7.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
36.6%±6.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
25.5%±5.1 MA: 18.6% |
| Stow and Paxton 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 | #44 of 282 in MA | #219 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Spencer-E Brookfield | Nashoba | Wachusett |
| High school in town | David Prouty High | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.9 |
— | — |
| 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.