Compare towns
Easthampton vs Hooksett vs Holyoke 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 most people working from home (19%).
Hooksett has the highest household income ($118k).
Holyoke has the most renters (58.7% rent).
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 | Hooksett | Holyoke | Spencer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,086 |
15,057 |
37,813Highest |
12,008Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46±2.6 18% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5 6% above U.S. |
40±1.6Lowest about the U.S. average |
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% |
17.4%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
21.4%±1.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Holyoke and Hooksett 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% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.1%±1.6 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% |
39.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
25.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hooksett and Easthampton 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 11% below U.S. |
$117,962±$11kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$53,605±$3kLowest 34% below U.S. |
$80,533±$11k about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $371,500±$15k 12% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26kHighest 22% above U.S. |
$274,100±$8kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$382,000±$22k 15% above U.S. |
| Hooksett and Spencer 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. |
$1,661±$206Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,021±$60Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,078±$161 24% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,932 58% above U.S. |
$6,554Highest 110% above U.S. |
$4,065Lowest 30% above U.S. |
$4,387 41% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.5%±10.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.7%±5.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±10.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Holyoke 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% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
27%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
11% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
41.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
63% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1950Lowest 30 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 16% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±3.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15%±7.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #30 of 120 in NH | #281 of 282 in MA | #261 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Easthampton | Hooksett School District | Holyoke · Springfield | Spencer-E Brookfield |
| High school in town | Easthampton High | None in town | Holyoke High | David Prouty High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Lowest |
— | 12.5Highest |
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.