Compare towns
Easthampton vs Hatfield 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%).
Hatfield has the most homeowners (74.6%).
Spencer has the most kids (16.4% under 18).
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 | Hatfield | Spencer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,086Highest |
3,325Lowest |
12,008 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +2.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46±2.6Lowest 15% above MA |
46.8±5 17% above MA |
48.9±6.8Highest 22% above MA |
| Spencer and Hatfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.5%±2.4 MA: 19.4% |
14%±4.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
16.4%±3.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Spencer and Easthampton 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% |
23.3%±4.6Lowest 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% |
48.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
29.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.6Lowest 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 |
$89,005±$25kHighest 14% below MA |
$80,533±$11k 23% below MA |
| Hatfield 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 |
$440,800±$26kHighest 22% below MA |
$382,000±$22k 32% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,292±$70Highest 27% below MA |
$1,267±$216 28% below MA |
$1,078±$161Lowest 39% below MA |
| Easthampton and Hatfield 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 |
$4,930 18% below MA |
$4,387Lowest 27% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.5%±10.7 MA: 51.8% |
42.6%±11.8Lowest 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%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.9% MA: 10% |
11%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
74.6%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 min 23% below MA |
20 minLowest 30% below MA |
34 minHighest 18% above MA |
| Work from home | 19%±3.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
16%±6.3 MA: 18.6% |
15%±7.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Easthampton and Hatfield 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 | #198 of 282 in MA | #261 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Easthampton | Hatfield | Spencer-E Brookfield |
| High school in town | Easthampton High | Smith Academy | David Prouty High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8 |
6.1Lowest |
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.