What stands out worked out from the figures below

Spencer has the most kids (16.4% under 18).

Thompson has the most homeowners (84.3%).

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	Thompson
People
Population	12,008Highest	9,337Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.6% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	48.9±6.8Lowest 26% above U.S.	54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S.
	Thompson and Spencer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	16.4%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22%	11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Spencer and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	26%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2%	24.4%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Spencer and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	29.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.2%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Spencer and Thompson 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 about the U.S. average	$93,629±$18kHighest 16% above U.S.
	Thompson and Spencer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$382,000±$22kHighest 15% above U.S.	$291,900±$24kLowest 12% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,078±$161Highest 24% below U.S.	$1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S.
	Spencer and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,387Highest 41% above U.S.	$3,822Lowest 23% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	50.6%±10.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	54%±18.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Thompson and Spencer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	11%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	5.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	63%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1968Highest 12 yrs older than U.S.	1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minHighest 30% above U.S.	32 minLowest 20% above U.S.
Work from home	15%±7.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%	13.1%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Spencer and Thompson 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	#130 of 149 in CT
School district	Spencer-E Brookfield	Thompson School District
High school in town	David Prouty High	Tourtellotte Memorial High School
Students per teacherat that high school	9.9Highest	7.9Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

U.S. 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.