Compare towns
Easthampton vs Gorham vs Northbridge 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 shortest commute (22 min average).
Gorham has the most homeowners (81.5%).
Northbridge has the most kids (21.1% 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 | Gorham | Northbridge | Spencer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,086 |
18,300Highest |
16,458 |
12,008Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +11.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46±2.6 18% above U.S. |
39.4±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
43.8±2.6 13% 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% |
20.9%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Northbridge and Gorham 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% |
17.5%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest 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% |
44.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
29.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
13.1%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $71,673±$7kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$112,312±$6kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$111,319±$19k 38% above U.S. |
$80,533±$11k about the U.S. average |
| Gorham and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $371,500±$15kLowest 12% above U.S. |
$460,900±$26kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$448,600±$15k 35% above U.S. |
$382,000±$22k 15% above U.S. |
| Gorham and Northbridge 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. |
$1,680±$355Highest 19% above U.S. |
$1,207±$102 15% below U.S. |
$1,078±$161Lowest 24% below U.S. |
| Gorham and Easthampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,932Highest 58% above U.S. |
$4,825 55% above U.S. |
$4,821 55% above U.S. |
$4,387Lowest 41% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.5%±10.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.9%±8.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.2%±9.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±10.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Northbridge and Spencer 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% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
11%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
63% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 16% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±3.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
15%±7.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #92 of 282 in MA | #24 of 133 in ME | #226 of 282 in MA | #261 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Easthampton | Gorham Public Schools | Northbridge | Spencer-E Brookfield |
| High school in town | Easthampton High | Gorham High School | Northbridge High | David Prouty High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Lowest |
12.9Highest |
10.8 |
9.9 |
| 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.