Compare towns
Easthampton vs Dudley 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%).
Dudley has the most kids (20.6% under 18).
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 | Dudley | Spencer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,086Highest |
11,929Lowest |
12,008 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +4.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46±2.6 15% above MA |
40.2±2.4Lowest about the MA average |
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% |
20.6%±3.3Highest 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+ | 23.9%±3 MA: 17.9% |
16.9%±3Lowest 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%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
29.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.9 MA: 7.9% |
13.1%±2Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.2%±2.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $71,673±$7kLowest 31% below MA |
$84,604±$12kHighest 19% 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 | $371,500±$15kLowest 34% below MA |
$392,600±$19kHighest 30% 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 | $1,292±$70Highest 27% below MA |
$1,217±$182 31% 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 | $4,932Highest 18% below MA |
$3,691Lowest 38% below MA |
$4,387 27% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.5%±10.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
47.4%±4.1 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 | 8% MA: 10% |
6.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
11%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
63% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966Lowest 2 yrs newer than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 23% below MA |
27 min 6% below MA |
34 minHighest 18% above MA |
| Work from home | 19%±3.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
9.1%±2.5Lowest 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 | #142 of 282 in MA | #261 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Easthampton | Dudley-Charlton Reg | Spencer-E Brookfield |
| High school in town | Easthampton High | Shepherd Hill Regional High | David Prouty High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Lowest |
14.3Highest |
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.