Compare towns
Easthampton vs Ware vs Spencer vs Northbridge
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 shortest commute (22 min average).
Ware has the most affordable homes ($290k median).
Spencer has the oldest population (median age 48.9).
Northbridge has the highest household income ($111k).
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 | Northbridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,086 |
10,048Lowest |
12,008 |
16,458Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6% MA: +7.4% |
+4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46±2.6 15% above MA |
43.1±4.7Lowest 8% above MA |
48.9±6.8Highest 22% above MA |
43.8±2.6 9% 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% |
19.1%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
16.4%±3.9 MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±2.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Northbridge and Ware 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% |
20.6%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
26%±4.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest 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% |
24%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
29.1% MA: 47.3% |
36.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
5.2%±2.4 MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±1.3Lowest 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±$7k 31% below MA |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% below MA |
$80,533±$11k 23% below MA |
$111,319±$19kHighest 7% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $371,500±$15k 34% below MA |
$289,700±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
$382,000±$22k 32% below MA |
$448,600±$15kHighest 20% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,292±$70Highest 27% below MA |
$1,043±$109Lowest 41% below MA |
$1,078±$161 39% below MA |
$1,207±$102 31% below MA |
| Easthampton and Northbridge 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 |
$4,237Lowest 29% below MA |
$4,387 27% below MA |
$4,821 20% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.5%±10.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±10.3 MA: 51.8% |
51.2%±9.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8% MA: 10% |
11.8%Highest MA: 10% |
11% MA: 10% |
7.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
72.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
63% MA: 62.5% |
70.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1973Highest 9 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 23% below MA |
28 min about the MA average |
34 minHighest 18% above MA |
31 min 7% above MA |
| Work from home | 19%±3.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
15%±7.3 MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
| Easthampton and Northbridge 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 | #226 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Easthampton | Ware | Spencer-E Brookfield | Northbridge |
| High school in town | Easthampton High | Ware Junior/Senior High School | David Prouty High | Northbridge High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Lowest |
11.1Highest |
9.9 |
10.8 |
| 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.