Compare towns
Easthampton vs Gardner 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).
Gardner has the most affordable homes ($302k median).
Spencer has the highest household income ($81k).
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 | Gardner | Spencer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,086 |
21,148Highest |
12,008Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +5.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46±2.6 15% above MA |
43.7±2.3Lowest 9% 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% |
18.3%±2.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.4%±3.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Gardner 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% |
19.6%±2.2Lowest 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% |
23.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
29.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.3Lowest 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±$7k 31% below MA |
$67,518±$8kLowest 35% below MA |
$80,533±$11kHighest 23% below MA |
| Spencer and Easthampton 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 |
$301,600±$20kLowest 46% 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 |
$1,109±$51 37% below MA |
$1,078±$161Lowest 39% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,932Highest 18% below MA |
$4,150Lowest 31% below MA |
$4,387 27% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.5%±10.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
49.7%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±10.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Spencer and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8%Lowest MA: 10% |
13.7%Highest MA: 10% |
11% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
58.9% MA: 62.5% |
63%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 23% below MA |
31 min 5% above MA |
34 minHighest 18% above MA |
| Work from home | 19%±3.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
13.3%±3.6Lowest 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 | #273 of 282 in MA | #261 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Easthampton | Gardner | Spencer-E Brookfield |
| High school in town | Easthampton High | Gardner High | David Prouty High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Lowest |
13.5Highest |
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.