Compare towns
Spencer vs Needham vs Oakham vs Easthampton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Oakham has the most homeowners (91.6%).
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 | Oakham | Easthampton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 12,008 |
32,459Highest |
1,639Lowest |
16,086 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6% MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 48.9±6.8 22% above MA |
43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA |
49±2.3Highest 23% above MA |
46±2.6 15% above MA |
| Oakham and Spencer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.4%±3.9 MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.2%±3.1 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% |
21.4%±2.3 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% |
40.3% MA: 47.3% |
38% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.4 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±2.1Lowest 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 |
$102,000±$20k about the MA average |
$71,673±$7kLowest 31% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $382,000±$22k 32% below MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$420,100±$20k 25% below MA |
$371,500±$15kLowest 34% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,078±$161Lowest 39% below MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,174±$81 33% below MA |
$1,292±$70 27% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,387 27% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$4,103Lowest 32% below 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% |
27.8%±69.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
45.5%±10.7 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% |
4.4% MA: 10% |
8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 63% MA: 62.5% |
83.1% MA: 62.5% |
91.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
58.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 18% above MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
39 minHighest 32% above MA |
22 minLowest 23% below MA |
| Work from home | 15%±7.3 MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
9.6%±3.8Lowest 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 | Quabbin | Easthampton |
| High school in town | David Prouty High | Needham High | None in town | 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 | 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.