Compare towns
Easthampton vs Windham vs Spencer vs Northbridge
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).
Windham has the most homeowners (82.9%).
Spencer has the oldest population (median age 48.9).
Northbridge has the most kids (21.1% under 18).
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 | Windham | Spencer | Northbridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,086 |
594Lowest |
12,008 |
16,458Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46±2.6 18% above U.S. |
44.2±7.4 14% above U.S. |
48.9±6.8Highest 26% above U.S. |
43.8±2.6Lowest 13% 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% |
17.5%±7.9 U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Northbridge and Windham 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% |
23.2%±8.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
26%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.3 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. |
$94,500±$12k 17% above U.S. |
$80,533±$11k about the U.S. average |
$111,319±$19kHighest 38% above U.S. |
| Northbridge and Windham 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. |
$353,900±$20kLowest 6% above U.S. |
$382,000±$22k 15% above U.S. |
$448,600±$15kHighest 35% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,292±$70Highest 9% below U.S. |
— | $1,078±$161Lowest 24% below U.S. |
$1,207±$102 15% below U.S. |
| Easthampton and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,932 58% above U.S. |
$5,951Highest 91% above U.S. |
$4,387Lowest 41% above U.S. |
$4,821 55% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.5%±10.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±94Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±10.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
51.2%±9.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Northbridge and Spencer 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% |
9.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
11%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
63% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 16% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±3.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.5%±5.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15%±7.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Windham 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 | — | #261 of 282 in MA | #226 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Easthampton | — | Spencer-E Brookfield | Northbridge |
| High school in town | Easthampton High | — | David Prouty High | Northbridge High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Lowest |
— | 9.9 |
10.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.