Compare towns
Easthampton vs Newfields vs Spencer vs Hadley
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 renters (41.6% rent).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
Spencer has the oldest population (median age 48.9).
Hadley has the shortest commute (20 min average).
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 | Newfields | Spencer | Hadley |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,086Highest |
2,023Lowest |
12,008 |
5,306 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +5.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46±2.6 18% above U.S. |
44.1±1.8Lowest 13% above U.S. |
48.9±6.8Highest 26% above U.S. |
45.8±7.1 18% 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% |
18.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Newfields 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% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.2%±4.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Spencer and Hadley 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% |
68.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
61.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±7.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
10.9%±5.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hadley and Newfields 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. |
$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
$80,533±$11k about the U.S. average |
$119,259±$12k 48% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $371,500±$15kLowest 12% above U.S. |
$646,400±$34kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$382,000±$22k 15% above U.S. |
$511,000±$43k 54% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,292±$70 9% below U.S. |
$1,875±$323Highest 33% above U.S. |
$1,078±$161Lowest 24% below U.S. |
$1,402±$132 about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,932 58% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,387Lowest 41% above U.S. |
$5,271 69% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.5%±10.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±40.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±10.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.6%±18.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Spencer and Easthampton 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% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
63% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 16% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 26% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±3.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15%±7.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.1%±7.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Newfields and Hadley 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 | #116 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Easthampton | Newfields School District | Spencer-E Brookfield | Hadley |
| High school in town | Easthampton High | None in town | David Prouty High | Hopkins Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8 |
— | 9.9Highest |
7.3Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.