Compare towns
Easthampton vs Ware vs Spencer vs Northampton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ware has the most kids (23.3% under 18).
Spencer has the most homeowners (63%).
Northampton has the most people working from home (24.1%).
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 | Ware | Spencer | Northampton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,086 |
6,369Lowest |
12,008 |
30,962Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +1.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6% MA: +7.4% |
+3.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46±2.6 15% above MA |
39.8±6Lowest about the MA average |
48.9±6.8Highest 22% above MA |
41.3±2.2 3% 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% |
23.3%±4.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.4%±3.9 MA: 19.4% |
16%±1.8 MA: 19.4% |
| Ware 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% |
17.4%±3.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
26%±4.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.4%±1.7 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% |
15.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
29.1% MA: 47.3% |
62.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.9 MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.2%±2.4 MA: 7.9% |
14%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $71,673±$7k 31% below MA |
$45,158±$11kLowest 57% below MA |
$80,533±$11kHighest 23% below MA |
$80,288±$6k 23% below MA |
| Spencer and Northampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $371,500±$15k 34% below MA |
$253,400±$31kLowest 55% below MA |
$382,000±$22k 32% below MA |
$429,700±$17kHighest 24% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,292±$70 27% below MA |
$1,039±$104Lowest 41% below MA |
$1,078±$161 39% below MA |
$1,439±$75Highest 18% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,932 18% below MA |
$3,408Lowest 43% below MA |
$4,387 27% below MA |
$5,680Highest 5% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.5%±10.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
64.5%±17.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±10.3 MA: 51.8% |
57.6%±6.7 MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Northampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8%Lowest MA: 10% |
14.1%Highest MA: 10% |
11% MA: 10% |
13.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.4% MA: 62.5% |
57.4% MA: 62.5% |
63%Highest MA: 62.5% |
57.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA |
1955 9 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 23% below MA |
27 min 9% below MA |
34 minHighest 18% above MA |
21 minLowest 26% below MA |
| Work from home | 19%±3.2 MA: 18.6% |
16.6%±5 MA: 18.6% |
15%±7.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
24.1%±3.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Northampton and Easthampton 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 | #267 of 282 in MA | #261 of 282 in MA | #159 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Easthampton | — | Spencer-E Brookfield | Northampton · Northampton-Smith Vocational Agricultural |
| High school in town | Easthampton High | — | David Prouty High | Northampton High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Lowest |
— | 9.9 |
14.7Highest |
| 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.