Compare towns
Spencer vs Heath 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 most kids (16.4% under 18).
Heath has the most people working from home (31.7%).
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 | Heath | Easthampton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 12,008 |
765Lowest |
16,086Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 48.9±6.8 22% above MA |
53.8±11.9Highest 35% above MA |
46±2.6Lowest 15% above MA |
| Heath and Spencer 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% |
13.1%±2.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
15.5%±2.4 MA: 19.4% |
| Spencer and Easthampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26%±4.4 MA: 17.9% |
33.6%±8.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
23.9%±3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Heath and Spencer 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% |
46.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
38% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.4 MA: 7.9% |
3.3%±2.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.1%±1.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
| 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 23% below MA |
$98,750±$23kHighest 5% below MA |
$71,673±$7kLowest 31% below MA |
| Heath 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 32% below MA |
$295,000±$45kLowest 48% below MA |
$371,500±$15k 34% below MA |
| 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±$161Lowest 39% 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 |
$4,438 26% below MA |
$4,932Highest 18% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.6%±10.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
40%±100Lowest 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% |
6.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 63% MA: 62.5% |
88.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
58.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1966Lowest 2 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 18% above MA |
35 minHighest 20% above MA |
22 minLowest 23% below MA |
| Work from home | 15%±7.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
31.7%±17.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
19%±3.2 MA: 18.6% |
| Heath 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 | #261 of 282 in MA | — | #92 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Spencer-E Brookfield | — | Easthampton |
| High school in town | David Prouty High | — | Easthampton High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.9Highest |
— | 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.