Compare towns
Dudley vs Easthampton vs Spencer
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dudley has the most kids (20.6% under 18).
Easthampton has the most people working from home (19%).
Spencer has the oldest population (median age 48.9).
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 | Dudley | Easthampton | Spencer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,929Lowest |
16,086Highest |
12,008 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
— | +2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.2±2.4Lowest about the MA average |
46±2.6 15% above MA |
48.9±6.8Highest 22% above MA |
| Spencer and Easthampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.6%±3.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.5%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
16.4%±3.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Dudley and Spencer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.9%±3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
23.9%±3 MA: 17.9% |
26%±4.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Spencer and Easthampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
38%Highest MA: 47.3% |
29.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.1%±2Highest MA: 7.9% |
6.1%±1.9 MA: 7.9% |
5.2%±2.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $84,604±$12kHighest 19% below MA |
$71,673±$7kLowest 31% below MA |
$80,533±$11k 23% below MA |
| Dudley and Spencer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $392,600±$19kHighest 30% below MA |
$371,500±$15kLowest 34% below MA |
$382,000±$22k 32% below MA |
| Dudley and Spencer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,217±$182 31% below MA |
$1,292±$70Highest 27% below MA |
$1,078±$161Lowest 39% below MA |
| Easthampton and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,691Lowest 38% below MA |
$4,932Highest 18% below MA |
$4,387 27% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.4%±4.1 MA: 51.8% |
45.5%±10.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±10.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Spencer and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
8% MA: 10% |
11%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
58.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
63% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1966Lowest 2 yrs newer than MA |
1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 6% below MA |
22 minLowest 23% below MA |
34 minHighest 18% above MA |
| Work from home | 9.1%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
19%±3.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
15%±7.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Easthampton 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 | #142 of 282 in MA | #92 of 282 in MA | #261 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dudley-Charlton Reg | Easthampton | Spencer-E Brookfield |
| High school in town | Shepherd Hill Regional High | Easthampton High | David Prouty High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.3Highest |
9.8Lowest |
9.9 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.