Compare towns
Spencer vs Everett vs Easthampton vs Montague
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).
Everett has the most expensive homes ($610k median).
Easthampton has the most people working from home (19%).
Montague has the most affordable homes ($282k median).
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 | Everett | Easthampton | Montague |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 12,008 |
50,045Highest |
16,086 |
8,482Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6% MA: +7.4% |
+17.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
— | +1.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.9±6.8Highest 22% above MA |
35.2±1.5Lowest 12% below MA |
46±2.6 15% above MA |
44.3±3.1 11% 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%±3.9 MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.5%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19%±2.8 MA: 19.4% |
| Everett and Montague 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% |
11.3%±1.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
23.9%±3 MA: 17.9% |
23.5%±3.2 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% MA: 47.3% |
24.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
38%Highest MA: 47.3% |
37.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.4 MA: 7.9% |
6.3%±0.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
6.1%±1.9 MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Everett and Easthampton 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 |
$85,218±$7kHighest 18% below MA |
$71,673±$7k 31% below MA |
$70,510±$12kLowest 32% below MA |
| Everett and Spencer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $382,000±$22k 32% below MA |
$610,000±$23kHighest 9% above MA |
$371,500±$15k 34% below MA |
$282,100±$17kLowest 50% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,078±$161Lowest 39% below MA |
$2,076±$69Highest 18% above MA |
$1,292±$70 27% below MA |
$1,207±$115 31% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,387 27% below MA |
$4,880 19% below MA |
$4,932Highest 18% below MA |
$3,922Lowest 35% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.6%±10.3 MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±5.8 MA: 51.8% |
45.5%±10.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
64.6%±8.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Montague and Everett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11% MA: 10% |
14.7%Highest MA: 10% |
8%Lowest MA: 10% |
11.5% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 63%Highest MA: 62.5% |
37.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
58.4% MA: 62.5% |
62.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
1951 13 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 18% above MA |
35 minHighest 20% above MA |
22 min 23% below MA |
21 minLowest 28% below MA |
| Work from home | 15%±7.3 MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
19%±3.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
14.9%±4.2 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 | #264 of 282 in MA | #92 of 282 in MA | #265 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Spencer-E Brookfield | Everett | Easthampton | Franklin County Regional Vocational Technical · Gill-Montague |
| High school in town | David Prouty High | Everett High | Easthampton High | Franklin County Technical |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.9 |
12.1Highest |
9.8Lowest |
11.7 |
| 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.