Compare towns
Easthampton vs Heath 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).
Heath has the most people working from home (31.7%).
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 | Heath | Spencer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,086Highest |
765Lowest |
12,008 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +2.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46±2.6Lowest 15% above MA |
53.8±11.9Highest 35% above MA |
48.9±6.8 22% above MA |
| Heath and Spencer 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% |
13.1%±2.8Lowest 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%±3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
33.6%±8.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
26%±4.4 MA: 17.9% |
| Heath and Spencer 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% |
46.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
29.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.3%±2.8Lowest 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 |
$98,750±$23kHighest 5% below MA |
$80,533±$11k 23% below MA |
| Heath 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±$15k 34% below MA |
$295,000±$45kLowest 48% 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 |
— | $1,078±$161Lowest 39% below MA |
| Easthampton and Spencer 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 |
$4,438 26% below MA |
$4,387Lowest 27% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.5%±10.7 MA: 51.8% |
40%±100Lowest 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% |
6.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
11%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
88.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
63% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966Lowest 2 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 23% below MA |
35 minHighest 20% above MA |
34 min 18% above MA |
| Work from home | 19%±3.2 MA: 18.6% |
31.7%±17.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
15%±7.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Heath 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 | — | #261 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Easthampton | — | Spencer-E Brookfield |
| High school in town | Easthampton High | — | David Prouty High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Lowest |
— | 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.