Compare towns
Easthampton vs Northampton vs Upton 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 affordable homes ($372k median).
Northampton has the youngest population (median age 41.3).
Upton has the highest household income ($156k).
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 | Northampton | Upton | Spencer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,086 |
30,962Highest |
8,189Lowest |
12,008 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +3.6% MA: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46±2.6 15% above MA |
41.3±2.2Lowest 3% above MA |
46.4±4.8 16% above MA |
48.9±6.8Highest 22% above MA |
| Spencer and Upton 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% |
16%±1.8 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.4%±3.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Upton and Spencer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23.9%±3 MA: 17.9% |
20.4%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9 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% |
62.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
53.5% MA: 47.3% |
29.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.9 MA: 7.9% |
14%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.2%±2.4 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $71,673±$7kLowest 31% below MA |
$80,288±$6k 23% below MA |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$80,533±$11k 23% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $371,500±$15kLowest 34% below MA |
$429,700±$17k 24% below MA |
$576,700±$41kHighest about the MA average |
$382,000±$22k 32% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,292±$70 27% below MA |
$1,439±$75Highest 18% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,078±$161 39% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,932 18% below MA |
$5,680 5% below MA |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$4,387Lowest 27% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.5%±10.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.6%±6.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±10.3 MA: 51.8% |
| Northampton and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8% MA: 10% |
13.4%Highest MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
11% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.4% MA: 62.5% |
57.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
63% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
1955Lowest 9 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 23% below MA |
21 minLowest 26% below MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
34 min 18% above MA |
| Work from home | 19%±3.2 MA: 18.6% |
24.1%±3.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
15%±7.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Northampton and Upton 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 | #159 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | #261 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Easthampton | Northampton · Northampton-Smith Vocational Agricultural | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Spencer-E Brookfield |
| High school in town | Easthampton High | Northampton High | Blackstone Valley | David Prouty High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Lowest |
14.7Highest |
11.2 |
9.9 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.