What stands out worked out from the figures below

Easthampton has the shortest commute (22 min average).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Easthampton	Spencer
People
Population	16,086Highest	12,008Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	+2.6% MA: +7.4%
Median age	46±2.6Lowest 15% 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%	16.4%±3.9Highest MA: 19.4%
	Spencer and Easthampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	23.9%±3Lowest 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%	29.1%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.1%±1.9Highest MA: 7.9%	5.2%±2.4Lowest MA: 7.9%
	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 31% 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	$382,000±$22kHighest 32% below MA
	Spencer and Easthampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,292±$70Highest 27% below MA	$1,078±$161Lowest 39% below MA
	Easthampton and Spencer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,932Highest 18% below MA	$4,387Lowest 27% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45.5%±10.7Lowest MA: 51.8%	50.6%±10.3Highest MA: 51.8%
	Spencer and Easthampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8%Lowest MA: 10%	11%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	58.4%Lowest MA: 62.5%	63%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1966Lowest 2 yrs newer than MA	1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	22 minLowest 23% below MA	34 minHighest 18% above MA
Work from home	19%±3.2Highest MA: 18.6%	15%±7.3Lowest 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	#261 of 282 in MA
School district	Easthampton	Spencer-E Brookfield
High school in town	Easthampton High	David Prouty High
Students per teacherat that high school	9.8Lowest	9.9Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.