What stands out worked out from the figures below

Spencer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.6%).

Winchendon has the most kids (21.8% under 18).

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	Winchendon
People
Population	12,008Highest	10,440Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.6%Highest MA: +7.4%	+0.6%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	48.9±6.8Highest 22% above MA	39.6±1.9Lowest about the MA average
Kids under 18	16.4%±3.9Lowest MA: 19.4%	21.8%±3.9Highest MA: 19.4%
	Winchendon and Spencer 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%	16.9%±2.7Lowest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	29.1%Highest MA: 47.3%	21.4%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.2%±2.4Highest MA: 7.9%	4.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Spencer and Winchendon 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	$75,690±$14kLowest 27% below MA
	Spencer and Winchendon 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	$323,800±$19kLowest 42% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,078±$161Lowest 39% below MA	$1,255±$163Highest 29% below MA
	Winchendon and Spencer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,387Highest 27% below MA	$3,780Lowest 37% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	50.6%±10.3Lowest MA: 51.8%	61.7%±17.6Highest MA: 51.8%
	Winchendon and Spencer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	11%Lowest MA: 10%	18.5%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	63%Lowest MA: 62.5%	76.6%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1968Lowest 4 yrs newer than MA	1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minHighest 18% above MA	32 minLowest 11% above MA
Work from home	15%±7.3Highest MA: 18.6%	11.2%±3.1Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Spencer and Winchendon 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	#269 of 282 in MA
School district	Spencer-E Brookfield	Winchendon
High school in town	David Prouty High	Murdock High School
Students per teacherat that high school	9.9Lowest	11.3Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.