Compare towns
Whitman vs Spencer vs Abington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Whitman has the oldest housing (typical home built 1957).
Spencer has the oldest population (median age 48.9).
Abington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.7%).
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 | Whitman | Spencer | Abington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,295 |
12,008Lowest |
17,053Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.4±1.8 about the MA average |
48.9±6.8Highest 22% above MA |
39.1±1.8Lowest about the MA average |
| Spencer and Whitman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.1%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
16.4%±3.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.2%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Abington and Whitman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.5%±2.1 MA: 17.9% |
26%±4.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
13.1%±1.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.3% MA: 47.3% |
29.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
40%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
5.2%±2.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
5%±1.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Spencer and Whitman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $108,933±$14k 5% above MA |
$80,533±$11kLowest 23% below MA |
$125,400±$12kHighest 21% above MA |
| Abington and Whitman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $472,700±$12k 16% below MA |
$382,000±$22kLowest 32% below MA |
$539,600±$34kHighest 4% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,771±$151Highest about the MA average |
$1,078±$161Lowest 39% below MA |
$1,724±$250 about the MA average |
| Whitman and Abington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,824 about the MA average |
$4,387Lowest 27% below MA |
$7,045Highest 18% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.9%±13.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±10.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
50.7%±11 MA: 51.8% |
| Whitman and Abington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.9% MA: 10% |
11%Highest MA: 10% |
5.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.4% MA: 62.5% |
63%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
72.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1970Highest 6 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 24% above MA |
34 min 18% above MA |
33 minLowest 14% above MA |
| Work from home | 10.8%±2.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
15%±7.3 MA: 18.6% |
15.1%±2.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Abington 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 | #191 of 282 in MA | #261 of 282 in MA | #143 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Whitman-Hanson | Spencer-E Brookfield | Abington |
| High school in town | None in town | David Prouty High | Abington High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.9Lowest |
11.3Highest |
| 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.