Compare towns
Easthampton vs Lawrence 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%).
Lawrence has the most kids (26.3% under 18).
Spencer has the highest household income ($81k).
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 | Lawrence | Spencer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,086 |
88,736Highest |
12,008Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +16.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46±2.6 15% above MA |
32.6±0.9Lowest 19% below MA |
48.9±6.8Highest 22% above MA |
| 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 MA: 19.4% |
26.3%±1.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.4%±3.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 23.9%±3 MA: 17.9% |
10.5%±0.9Lowest 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%Highest MA: 47.3% |
16.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
29.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±0.8 MA: 7.9% |
5.2%±2.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Easthampton and Lawrence 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 31% below MA |
$60,433±$3kLowest 42% below MA |
$80,533±$11kHighest 23% below MA |
| Spencer and Easthampton 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 |
$415,200±$23kHighest 26% below MA |
$382,000±$22k 32% below MA |
| Lawrence 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 27% below MA |
$1,662±$50Highest 6% below MA |
$1,078±$161Lowest 39% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,932Highest 18% below MA |
$3,422Lowest 43% below MA |
$4,387 27% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.5%±10.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
60.6%±3.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±10.3 MA: 51.8% |
| Lawrence and Spencer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8%Lowest MA: 10% |
17.6%Highest MA: 10% |
11% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.4% MA: 62.5% |
28.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
63%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA |
1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 23% below MA |
23 min 21% below MA |
34 minHighest 18% above MA |
| Work from home | 19%±3.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
6.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
15%±7.3 MA: 18.6% |
| 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 | #278 of 282 in MA | #261 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Easthampton | Lawrence | Spencer-E Brookfield |
| High school in town | Easthampton High | Lawrence High School | David Prouty High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Lowest |
13.6Highest |
9.9 |
| 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.