Compare towns
Easthampton vs Dalton vs Spencer
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Easthampton has the most people working from home (19%).
Dalton has the most kids (20.6% under 18).
Spencer has the most expensive homes ($382k 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 | Easthampton | Dalton | Spencer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,086Highest |
6,256Lowest |
12,008 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -6.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46±2.6Lowest 15% above MA |
49.7±5.8Highest 24% above MA |
48.9±6.8 22% above MA |
| Dalton and Spencer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.5%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.6%±4.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.4%±3.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Dalton and Spencer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.9%±3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
27.9%±5.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
26%±4.4 MA: 17.9% |
| Dalton and Spencer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38% MA: 47.3% |
44.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
29.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.3%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.2%±2.4 MA: 7.9% |
| Easthampton and Spencer 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 31% below MA |
$79,438±$8k 24% below MA |
$80,533±$11kHighest 23% below MA |
| Spencer and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $371,500±$15k 34% below MA |
$295,700±$26kLowest 47% below MA |
$382,000±$22kHighest 32% below MA |
| Spencer and Easthampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,292±$70Highest 27% below MA |
$872±$70Lowest 51% below MA |
$1,078±$161 39% below MA |
| Easthampton and Spencer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,932Highest 18% below MA |
$4,276Lowest 29% below MA |
$4,387 27% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.5%±10.7 MA: 51.8% |
41.2%±19Lowest MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±10.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Spencer and Easthampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8% MA: 10% |
7.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
11%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
70.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
63% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 23% below MA |
22 minLowest 24% below MA |
34 minHighest 18% above MA |
| Work from home | 19%±3.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.5%±7.1Lowest 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 | #92 of 282 in MA | #192 of 282 in MA | #261 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Easthampton | Central Berkshire | Spencer-E Brookfield |
| High school in town | Easthampton High | Wahconah Regional High | David Prouty High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Lowest |
10.9Highest |
9.9 |
| 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.