Compare towns
Spencer vs Barre vs Easthampton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Spencer has the oldest population (median age 48.9).
Barre has the highest household income ($108k).
Easthampton has the shortest commute (22 min average).
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 | Spencer | Barre | Easthampton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 12,008 |
5,572Lowest |
16,086Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 48.9±6.8Highest 22% above MA |
43.8±8.5Lowest 9% above MA |
46±2.6 15% 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 | 16.4%±3.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.8%±5.4 MA: 19.4% |
15.5%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Spencer and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26%±4.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
19%±5.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
23.9%±3 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+ | 29.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
31.6% MA: 47.3% |
38%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±3.2 MA: 7.9% |
6.1%±1.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Easthampton and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $80,533±$11k 23% below MA |
$107,727±$13kHighest 4% above MA |
$71,673±$7kLowest 31% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $382,000±$22k 32% below MA |
$394,300±$55kHighest 30% below MA |
$371,500±$15kLowest 34% below MA |
| Barre and Spencer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,078±$161 39% below MA |
$1,030±$713Lowest 42% below MA |
$1,292±$70Highest 27% below MA |
| Easthampton and Spencer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,387Lowest 27% below MA |
$5,163Highest 14% below MA |
$4,932 18% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.6%±10.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
38.2%±27.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
45.5%±10.7 MA: 51.8% |
| Spencer and Easthampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11%Highest MA: 10% |
8.2% MA: 10% |
8%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 63% MA: 62.5% |
75.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
58.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1971Highest 7 yrs newer than MA |
1966Lowest 2 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 18% above MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
22 minLowest 23% below MA |
| Work from home | 15%±7.3 MA: 18.6% |
11.2%±4.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
19%±3.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
| 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 | #261 of 282 in MA | #134 of 282 in MA | #92 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Spencer-E Brookfield | Quabbin | Easthampton |
| High school in town | David Prouty High | Quabbin Regional High School | Easthampton High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.9 |
12.9Highest |
9.8Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.