Compare towns
Easthampton vs Wareham 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
Easthampton has the most affordable homes ($372k median).
Wareham has the most homeowners (83.5%).
Spencer has the most kids (16.4% under 18).
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 | Wareham | Spencer | Northampton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,086 |
23,302 |
12,008Lowest |
30,962Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +6.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46±2.6 15% above MA |
52.1±3.1Highest 30% above MA |
48.9±6.8 22% above MA |
41.3±2.2Lowest 3% above MA |
| Wareham and Spencer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.5%±2.4 MA: 19.4% |
13.1%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
16.4%±3.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
16%±1.8 MA: 19.4% |
| Spencer and Northampton 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% |
26.2%±3.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
26%±4.4 MA: 17.9% |
20.4%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Wareham and Spencer 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% |
27.1%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% |
5.6%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
5.2%±2.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
14%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $71,673±$7kLowest 31% below MA |
$90,383±$11kHighest 13% below MA |
$80,533±$11k 23% below MA |
$80,288±$6k 23% below MA |
| Wareham 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±$15kLowest 34% below MA |
$424,500±$21k 24% below MA |
$382,000±$22k 32% below MA |
$429,700±$17kHighest 24% below MA |
| Northampton and Wareham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,292±$70 27% below MA |
$1,504±$180Highest 15% below MA |
$1,078±$161Lowest 39% below MA |
$1,439±$75 18% below MA |
| Wareham and Northampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,932 18% below MA |
$4,341Lowest 28% 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% |
51.4%±23.3 MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±10.3 MA: 51.8% |
57.6%±6.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Northampton and Wareham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8% MA: 10% |
6.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
11% MA: 10% |
13.4%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.4% MA: 62.5% |
83.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
63% MA: 62.5% |
57.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
1958 6 yrs older than MA |
1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA |
1955Lowest 9 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 23% below MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
34 minHighest 18% above MA |
21 minLowest 26% below MA |
| Work from home | 19%±3.2 MA: 18.6% |
12.4%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
15%±7.3 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 | #272 of 282 in MA | #261 of 282 in MA | #159 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Easthampton | Wareham | Spencer-E Brookfield | Northampton · Northampton-Smith Vocational Agricultural |
| High school in town | Easthampton High | Wareham Senior High | David Prouty High | Northampton High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8 |
8.6Lowest |
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.