Compare towns
Easthampton vs Needham 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).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
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 | Needham | Spencer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,086 |
32,459Highest |
12,008Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46±2.6 15% above MA |
43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above 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% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.4%±3.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 23.9%±3 MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest 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% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
29.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
5.2%±2.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Easthampton and Needham 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 |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$80,533±$11k 23% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $371,500±$15kLowest 34% below MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$382,000±$22k 32% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,292±$70 27% below MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,078±$161Lowest 39% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,932 18% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$4,387Lowest 27% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.5%±10.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±10.3 MA: 51.8% |
| Needham and Spencer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8% MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
11%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
63% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 23% below MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
34 minHighest 18% above MA |
| Work from home | 19%±3.2 MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
15%±7.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #92 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #261 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Easthampton | Needham | Spencer-E Brookfield |
| High school in town | Easthampton High | Needham High | David Prouty High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Lowest |
11.9Highest |
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.