Compare towns
Spencer vs Whitman 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).
Whitman has the highest household income ($109k).
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 | Whitman | Easthampton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 12,008Lowest |
15,295 |
16,086Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 48.9±6.8Highest 22% above MA |
40.4±1.8Lowest about the MA average |
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% |
21.1%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.5%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Whitman and Spencer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26%±4.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.5%±2.1Lowest 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% |
31.3% MA: 47.3% |
38%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.4 MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±1.2Lowest 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 |
$108,933±$14kHighest 5% above MA |
$71,673±$7kLowest 31% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $382,000±$22k 32% below MA |
$472,700±$12kHighest 16% below MA |
$371,500±$15kLowest 34% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,078±$161Lowest 39% below MA |
$1,771±$151Highest about the MA average |
$1,292±$70 27% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,387Lowest 27% below MA |
$5,824Highest about the MA average |
$4,932 18% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.6%±10.3 MA: 51.8% |
61.9%±13.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.5%±10.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Whitman 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% |
7.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 63% MA: 62.5% |
71.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
58.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA |
1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 18% above MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
22 minLowest 23% below MA |
| Work from home | 15%±7.3 MA: 18.6% |
10.8%±2.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
19%±3.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
| 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 | #191 of 282 in MA | #92 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Spencer-E Brookfield | Whitman-Hanson | 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 |
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.