Compare towns
Easthampton vs Lancaster vs Ogunquit 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).
Lancaster has the highest household income ($135k).
Ogunquit has the most expensive homes ($876k median).
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 | Lancaster | Ogunquit | Spencer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,086Highest |
8,606 |
1,379Lowest |
12,008 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46±2.6 18% above U.S. |
43.1±4.9Lowest 11% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
48.9±6.8 26% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 15.5%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Lancaster and Spencer 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% |
19.9%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
26%±4.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38% U.S.: 35.7% |
50.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 11% below U.S. |
$134,833±$27kHighest 67% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56k 42% above U.S. |
$80,533±$11k about the U.S. average |
| Lancaster and Ogunquit 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. |
$519,100±$60k 56% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$382,000±$22k 15% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,292±$70 9% below U.S. |
$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
— | $1,078±$161Lowest 24% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,932 58% above U.S. |
$7,235Highest 132% above U.S. |
$4,473 43% above U.S. |
$4,387Lowest 41% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.5%±10.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±10.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lancaster 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% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
11%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
63% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 16% below U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±3.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±9.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15%±7.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ogunquit and Lancaster 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 | #145 of 282 in MA | — | #261 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Easthampton | Nashoba | — | Spencer-E Brookfield |
| High school in town | Easthampton High | None in town | — | 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 | 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.