Compare towns
Spencer vs Woonsocket vs Easthampton vs Paxton
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).
Woonsocket has the most renters (62.8% rent).
Easthampton has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Paxton has the highest household income ($134k).
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 | Woonsocket | Easthampton | Paxton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 12,008 |
43,521Highest |
16,086 |
5,002Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +4.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.9±6.8Highest 26% above U.S. |
35.7±1.3Lowest 8% below U.S. |
46±2.6 18% above U.S. |
41.8±3.3 7% 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% |
23.3%±2Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.5%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 26%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.9%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±3.4 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% |
19.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
38% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
15.9%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $80,533±$11k about the U.S. average |
$61,059±$5kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$71,673±$7k 11% below U.S. |
$134,083±$8kHighest 66% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $382,000±$22k 15% above U.S. |
$311,000±$15kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$371,500±$15k 12% above U.S. |
$472,300±$29kHighest 42% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,078±$161Lowest 24% below U.S. |
$1,161±$48 18% below U.S. |
$1,292±$70 9% below U.S. |
$1,386±$88Highest about the U.S. average |
| Paxton and Easthampton 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. |
$3,960Lowest 27% above U.S. |
$4,932 58% above U.S. |
$7,129Highest 129% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.6%±10.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.7%±5.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.5%±10.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
26.2%±15.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Spencer and Woonsocket 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% |
18.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 63% U.S.: 65.2% |
37.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
58.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Highest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1966 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 16% below U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15%±7.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.4%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±5.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Paxton 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 | #37 of 38 in RI | #92 of 282 in MA | #219 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Spencer-E Brookfield | RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket | Easthampton | Wachusett |
| High school in town | David Prouty High | Woonsocket High School | Easthampton High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.9 |
15.2Highest |
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.