Compare towns
Stratton vs Spencer vs Hancock
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Stratton has the most kids (28% under 18).
Spencer has the oldest population (median age 48.9).
Hancock has the most affordable homes ($188k median).
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 | Stratton | Spencer | Hancock |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 532 |
12,008Highest |
435Lowest |
| 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. |
33.8±11.6 13% below U.S. |
| Spencer and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 28%±7.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.2%±5.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Stratton and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 11.7%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Spencer and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
29.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3%Highest 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% |
3.7%±3.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Spencer and Hancock 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±$11k about the U.S. average |
$76,250±$34kLowest 6% below U.S. |
| 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±$22k 15% above U.S. |
$187,900±$11kLowest 44% below 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±$161 24% below U.S. |
$939±$19Lowest 34% 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. |
$4,387 41% above U.S. |
$3,511Lowest 13% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 12%±69.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±10.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
3.5%±16.9Lowest 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% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
63% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 24% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 3.3%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15%±7.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.7%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Spencer and Hancock 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 | — |
| 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 | 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.