What stands out worked out from the figures below

Stratton has the most kids (28% under 18).

Spencer has the most people working from home (15%).

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	Stratton	Spencer
People
Population	532Lowest	12,008Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	+2.6% U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	31.5±4.1Lowest 19% below U.S.	48.9±6.8Highest 26% above U.S.
Kids under 18	28%±7.4Highest U.S.: 22%	16.4%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	11.7%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	26%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	33.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	29.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.3%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.2%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Spencer and Stratton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$122,708±$33kHighest 52% above U.S.	$80,533±$11kLowest about the U.S. average
	Stratton and Spencer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$400,000±$50kHighest 20% above U.S.	$382,000±$22kLowest 15% above U.S.
	Stratton and Spencer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,208±$979Highest 15% below U.S.	$1,078±$161Lowest 24% below U.S.
	Stratton and Spencer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,750Highest 52% above U.S.	$4,387Lowest 41% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	12%±69.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	50.6%±10.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Spencer and Stratton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	0%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	11%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	73.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	63%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S.	1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minLowest 24% above U.S.	34 minHighest 30% above U.S.
Work from home	3.3%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	15%±7.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	—	#261 of 282 in MA
School district	—	Spencer-E Brookfield
High school in town	—	David Prouty High
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.