Compare towns
Easthampton vs Sterling vs Spencer
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 shortest commute (22 min average).
Sterling has the most kids (22.8% under 18).
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 | Sterling | Spencer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,086Highest |
3,629Lowest |
12,008 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46±2.6 18% above U.S. |
39.4±5.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
48.9±6.8Highest 26% 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% |
22.8%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Sterling 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%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
18%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 11% below U.S. |
$102,695±$12kHighest 27% above U.S. |
$80,533±$11k about the U.S. average |
| Sterling and Spencer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $371,500±$15k 12% above U.S. |
$283,400±$17kLowest 15% below U.S. |
$382,000±$22kHighest 15% above U.S. |
| 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 9% below U.S. |
— | $1,078±$161Lowest 24% below U.S. |
| 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 58% above U.S. |
$4,551 46% above U.S. |
$4,387Lowest 41% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.5%±10.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
32%±18.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±10.3Highest 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
11%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
63% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 16% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
34 min 30% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±3.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.6%±6.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15%±7.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #119 of 149 in CT | #261 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Easthampton | Sterling School District | Spencer-E Brookfield |
| High school in town | Easthampton High | None in town | David Prouty High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Lowest |
— | 9.9Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.