Compare towns
Spencer vs Fairfield vs Easthampton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Spencer has the oldest population (median age 48.9).
Fairfield has the most kids (25.4% under 18).
Easthampton has the most people working from home (19%).
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 | Fairfield | Easthampton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 12,008 |
1,938Lowest |
16,086Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 48.9±6.8Highest 26% above U.S. |
42.3±2.7Lowest 9% above U.S. |
46±2.6 18% 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 | 16.4%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
25.4%±5Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.5%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 26%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.9%±3 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+ | 29.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
38%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.9Highest 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 | $80,533±$11k about the U.S. average |
$87,019±$22kHighest 8% above U.S. |
$71,673±$7kLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Fairfield 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±$22kHighest 15% above U.S. |
$320,600±$22kLowest 4% below U.S. |
$371,500±$15k 12% 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 | $1,078±$161 24% below U.S. |
$1,056±$441Lowest 25% below U.S. |
$1,292±$70Highest 9% below U.S. |
| 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 41% above U.S. |
$4,816 54% above U.S. |
$4,932Highest 58% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.6%±10.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
29.2%±20.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.5%±10.7 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 | 11%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 63% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
58.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
24 min 8% below U.S. |
22 minLowest 16% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 15%±7.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.2Highest 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 | #261 of 282 in MA | — | #92 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Spencer-E Brookfield | Maple Run Unified Union School District #57 | Easthampton |
| High school in town | David Prouty High | None in town | Easthampton High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.9Highest |
— | 9.8Lowest |
| 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.