Compare towns
Spencer vs Wendell 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 expensive homes ($382k median).
Wendell has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9%).
Adams has the shortest commute (24 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 | Wendell | Adams |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 12,008Highest |
850Lowest |
8,074 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6% MA: +7.4% |
+9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-3.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.9±6.8Highest 22% above MA |
47.1±8.8Lowest 18% above 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%±3.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
16%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
15.7%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Spencer and Wendell 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% |
22.7%±5.7Lowest 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% |
51.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.9 MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Spencer and Wendell 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 |
$65,288±$14k 37% below MA |
$58,929±$6kLowest 43% below MA |
| Spencer and Wendell 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 |
$290,300±$31k 48% below MA |
$209,900±$15kLowest 63% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,078±$161 39% below MA |
$1,239±$519Highest 30% below MA |
$963±$74Lowest 45% below MA |
| Wendell and Spencer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,387 27% below MA |
$4,519Highest 25% below MA |
$3,638Lowest 39% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.6%±10.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
55.6%±40.8 MA: 51.8% |
62.1%±10.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Adams and Wendell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11%Lowest MA: 10% |
21.3%Highest MA: 10% |
13.2% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 63% MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
62.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 18% above MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
24 minLowest 19% below MA |
| Work from home | 15%±7.3 MA: 18.6% |
16.8%±7.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
8.3%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Wendell 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 | — | #230 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Spencer-E Brookfield | New Salem-Wendell | Hoosac Valley Regional |
| 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.