Compare towns
Easthampton vs Waterville 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).
Waterville has the most affordable homes ($236k median).
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.
| Measure | Easthampton | Waterville | Spencer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,086Highest |
680Lowest |
12,008 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +1.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46±2.6Lowest 18% above U.S. |
49.1±8.2Highest 26% above U.S. |
48.9±6.8 26% above U.S. |
| Waterville and Spencer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.5%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.4%±8.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Waterville 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% |
14.4%±3.5Lowest 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% |
32.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
29.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Easthampton and Waterville 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 11% below U.S. |
$71,250±$27kLowest 12% below U.S. |
$80,533±$11kHighest about the U.S. average |
| 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±$15k 12% above U.S. |
$236,300±$15kLowest 29% 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. |
$1,110±$93 21% below U.S. |
$1,078±$161Lowest 24% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,932Highest 58% above U.S. |
$3,957Lowest 27% above U.S. |
$4,387 41% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.5%±10.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±27.2Lowest 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
63% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Highest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 16% below U.S. |
38 minHighest 42% above U.S. |
34 min 30% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±3.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.5%±3Lowest 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 | — | #261 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Easthampton | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A | 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.