Compare towns
Spencer vs Killingly vs Plainfield 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).
Killingly has the highest household income ($84k).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
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 | Killingly | Plainfield | Easthampton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 12,008Lowest |
17,867Highest |
15,141 |
16,086 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — | — |
| Median age | 48.9±6.8Highest 26% above U.S. |
39.5±3 about the U.S. average |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below 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% |
19.8%±2.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
15.5%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Killingly and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
22.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
38%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Easthampton and Plainfield 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 |
$84,350±$8kHighest 4% above U.S. |
$76,993±$8k 5% below U.S. |
$71,673±$7kLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Killingly 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. |
$288,600±$15k 13% below U.S. |
$272,100±$16kLowest 18% 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. |
$1,044±$141Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,204±$70 15% below U.S. |
$1,292±$70Highest 9% below U.S. |
| Easthampton and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,387 41% above U.S. |
$3,922Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$4,209 35% above U.S. |
$4,932Highest 58% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.6%±10.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.8%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 63% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
58.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
22 minLowest 16% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 15%±7.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4Lowest 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 | #136 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT | #92 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Spencer-E Brookfield | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Plainfield School District | Easthampton |
| High school in town | David Prouty High | Killingly High School | Plainfield High School | Easthampton High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.9 |
11.1Highest |
10.3 |
9.8Lowest |
| 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.