What stands out worked out from the figures below

Winchendon has the most kids (21.8% under 18).

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

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	Winchendon	Spencer
People
Population	10,440Lowest	12,008Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.6%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+2.6%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	39.6±1.9Lowest about the MA average	48.9±6.8Highest 22% above MA
Kids under 18	21.8%±3.9Highest MA: 19.4%	16.4%±3.9Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Winchendon and Spencer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	16.9%±2.7Lowest MA: 17.9%	26%±4.4Highest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	21.4%Lowest MA: 47.3%	29.1%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9%	5.2%±2.4Highest MA: 7.9%
	Spencer and Winchendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$75,690±$14kLowest 27% below MA	$80,533±$11kHighest 23% below MA
	Spencer and Winchendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$323,800±$19kLowest 42% below MA	$382,000±$22kHighest 32% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,255±$163Highest 29% below MA	$1,078±$161Lowest 39% below MA
	Winchendon and Spencer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,780Lowest 37% below MA	$4,387Highest 27% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	61.7%±17.6Highest MA: 51.8%	50.6%±10.3Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Winchendon and Spencer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	18.5%Highest MA: 10%	11%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	76.6%Highest MA: 62.5%	63%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA	1968Lowest 4 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minLowest 11% above MA	34 minHighest 18% above MA
Work from home	11.2%±3.1Lowest MA: 18.6%	15%±7.3Highest MA: 18.6%
	Spencer and Winchendon 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	#269 of 282 in MA	#261 of 282 in MA
School district	Winchendon	Spencer-E Brookfield
High school in town	Murdock High School	David Prouty High
Students per teacherat that high school	11.3Highest	9.9Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.