Compare towns
Easthampton vs Douglas 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 shortest commute (22 min average).
Douglas has the highest household income ($152k).
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 | Douglas | Spencer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,086Highest |
9,207Lowest |
12,008 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46±2.6 15% above MA |
44±2.6Lowest 10% 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 | 15.5%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.4%±3.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Douglas and Spencer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.9%±3 MA: 17.9% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest 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+ | 38% MA: 47.3% |
41.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
29.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.3 MA: 7.9% |
5.2%±2.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Easthampton and Douglas 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 |
$152,267±$10kHighest 46% above MA |
$80,533±$11k 23% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $371,500±$15kLowest 34% below MA |
$470,600±$29kHighest 16% below MA |
$382,000±$22k 32% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,292±$70 27% below MA |
$1,503±$697Highest 15% below MA |
$1,078±$161Lowest 39% below MA |
| Douglas and Easthampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,932 18% below MA |
$6,338Highest 6% above MA |
$4,387Lowest 27% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.5%±10.7 MA: 51.8% |
33.9%±17.4Lowest 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% |
4.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
11%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
63% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966Lowest 2 yrs newer than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 23% below MA |
34 min 16% above MA |
34 minHighest 18% above MA |
| Work from home | 19%±3.2 MA: 18.6% |
20.9%±4.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
15%±7.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Douglas and Easthampton 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 | #177 of 282 in MA | #261 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Easthampton | Douglas | Spencer-E Brookfield |
| High school in town | Easthampton High | Douglas High School | David Prouty High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8 |
7.2Lowest |
9.9Highest |
| 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.