What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Worcester has the most people working from home (23.6%).

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	Worcester
People
Population	12,008Highest	831Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	48.9±6.8Highest 26% above U.S.	47±2.7Lowest 21% above U.S.
	Spencer and Worcester 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%	12.8%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Spencer and Worcester 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%	19.5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Spencer and Worcester 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 U.S.: 35.7%	53%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.2%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	6.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Worcester and Spencer 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 about the U.S. average	$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below U.S.
	Spencer and Worcester 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.	$271,100±$27kLowest 19% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,078±$161Highest 24% below U.S.	$1,023±$136Lowest 28% below U.S.
	Spencer and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,387Lowest 41% above U.S.	$4,421Highest 42% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	50.6%±10.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%	25.5%±37Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Spencer and Worcester 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%	85.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S.	1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minHighest 30% above U.S.	29 minLowest 9% above U.S.
Work from home	15%±7.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	23.6%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Worcester 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	—
School district	Spencer-E Brookfield	Washington Central Unified Union School District #92
High school in town	David Prouty High	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	9.9	—
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.