Compare towns
Spencer vs Worcester vs Fairhaven
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%).
Worcester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.1%).
Fairhaven has the highest household income ($96k).
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 | Worcester | Fairhaven |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 12,008Lowest |
207,055Highest |
15,903 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6% MA: +7.4% |
+14.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+0.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.9±6.8Highest 22% above MA |
33.9±0.5Lowest 15% below MA |
48.5±3.4 21% above MA |
| Spencer and Fairhaven 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% |
19.6%±0.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.9%±2.7 MA: 19.4% |
| Worcester and Fairhaven 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% |
13.3%±0.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
24.9%±2.9 MA: 17.9% |
| Spencer and Fairhaven 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% |
35.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
32.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.4 MA: 7.9% |
14.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.3%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $80,533±$11k 23% below MA |
$70,102±$2kLowest 33% below MA |
$95,965±$19kHighest 8% below MA |
| Fairhaven 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±$22k 32% below MA |
$374,400±$7kLowest 33% below MA |
$446,700±$19kHighest 21% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,078±$161Lowest 39% below MA |
$1,487±$38Highest 16% below MA |
$1,118±$79 37% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,387 27% below MA |
$4,733Highest 21% below MA |
$3,566Lowest 40% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.6%±10.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
54.2%±2.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
51.1%±14 MA: 51.8% |
| Worcester and Fairhaven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11% MA: 10% |
19.6%Highest MA: 10% |
8.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 63% MA: 62.5% |
42.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
74.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA |
1951Lowest 13 yrs older than MA |
1952 12 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 18% above MA |
24 minLowest 17% below MA |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 15%±7.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
11.5%±1 MA: 18.6% |
11.4%±3.3Lowest 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 | #266 of 282 in MA | #126 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Spencer-E Brookfield | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | Fairhaven |
| High school in town | David Prouty High | South High Community | Fairhaven High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.9Lowest |
14.6Highest |
11.4 |
| 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.