Compare towns
Easthampton vs Ashburnham vs Windsor Locks vs Spencer
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Easthampton has the most people working from home (19%).
Ashburnham has the highest household income ($119k).
Windsor Locks has the most affordable homes ($259k median).
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 | Easthampton | Ashburnham | Windsor Locks | Spencer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,086Highest |
6,415Lowest |
12,579 |
12,008 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +3.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46±2.6 18% above U.S. |
40.7±6.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
41.4±2.6 6% above U.S. |
48.9±6.8Highest 26% above U.S. |
| Spencer and Easthampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.5%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Ashburnham and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23.9%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
26%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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+ | 38% U.S.: 35.7% |
44%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Easthampton and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $71,673±$7kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$118,809±$11kHighest 47% above U.S. |
$81,205±$13k about the U.S. average |
$80,533±$11k about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $371,500±$15k 12% above U.S. |
$390,700±$34kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$258,800±$14kLowest 22% below U.S. |
$382,000±$22k 15% above U.S. |
| Ashburnham and Spencer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,292±$70 9% below U.S. |
$1,807±$1kHighest 28% above U.S. |
$1,394±$187 about the U.S. average |
$1,078±$161Lowest 24% below U.S. |
| Ashburnham and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,932 58% above U.S. |
$6,046Highest 94% above U.S. |
$3,688Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$4,387 41% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.5%±10.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
58.2%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±10.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ashburnham and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
11%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
63% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 16% below U.S. |
32 min 21% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±3.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16%±7.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
15%±7.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Easthampton and Windsor Locks 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 | #92 of 282 in MA | #178 of 282 in MA | #109 of 149 in CT | #261 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Easthampton | Ashburnham-Westminster | Windsor Locks School District | Spencer-E Brookfield |
| High school in town | Easthampton High | None in town | Windsor Locks High School | David Prouty High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8 |
— | 8.9Lowest |
9.9Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.