Compare towns
Spencer vs Needham 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).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
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 | Needham | Easthampton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 12,008Lowest |
32,459Highest |
16,086 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 48.9±6.8Highest 22% above MA |
43.1±1.6Lowest 8% 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%±3.9 MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.5%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 26%±4.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest 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% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
38% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
6.1%±1.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Easthampton and Needham 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 |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$71,673±$7kLowest 31% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $382,000±$22k 32% below MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$371,500±$15kLowest 34% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,078±$161Lowest 39% below MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,292±$70 27% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,387Lowest 27% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$4,932 18% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.6%±10.3 MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.5%±10.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Needham and Spencer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11%Highest MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 63% MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
58.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA |
1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 18% above MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
22 minLowest 23% below MA |
| Work from home | 15%±7.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
19%±3.2 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #261 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #92 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Spencer-E Brookfield | Needham | Easthampton |
| High school in town | David Prouty High | Needham High | Easthampton High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.9 |
11.9Highest |
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.