Compare towns

Clinton 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

Clinton has the youngest population (median age 38.6).
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.

MeasureClintonNeedhamEasthampton
People
Population
15,563Lowest
32,459Highest
16,086
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+13.4%Highest
MA: +7.4%
+11.1%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
—
Median age
38.6±2.7Lowest
4% below MA
43.1±1.6
8% above MA
46±2.6Highest
15% above MA
Easthampton and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
17.8%±2.5
MA: 19.4%
27.5%±2.2Highest
MA: 19.4%
15.5%±2.4Lowest
MA: 19.4%
Age 65+
14.5%±2.8Lowest
MA: 17.9%
17.7%±1.7
MA: 17.9%
23.9%±3Highest
MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
36.6%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
81.9%Highest
MA: 47.3%
38%
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.9%±2Highest
MA: 7.9%
5.4%±1.1Lowest
MA: 7.9%
6.1%±1.9
MA: 7.9%
Clinton and Easthampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$89,781±$10k
14% below MA
$214,308±$13kHighest
106% above MA
$71,673±$7kLowest
31% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$387,300±$19k
31% below MA
$1,188,500±$43kHighest
111% above MA
$371,500±$15kLowest
34% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,402±$76
20% below MA
$2,409±$183Highest
37% above MA
$1,292±$70Lowest
27% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,654Lowest
22% below MA
$10,000+Highest
at least 67% above MA
$4,932
18% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
40.3%±6.4Lowest
MA: 51.8%
55.9%±8.5Highest
MA: 51.8%
45.5%±10.7
MA: 51.8%
Needham and Easthampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
8.6%Highest
MA: 10%
3.7%Lowest
MA: 10%
8%
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
54.7%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
83.1%Highest
MA: 62.5%
58.4%
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1956Lowest
8 yrs older than MA
1965
1 yr newer than MA
1966Highest
2 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
30 minHighest
about the MA average
28 min
5% below MA
22 minLowest
23% below MA
Work from home
14.2%±4.2Lowest
MA: 18.6%
32.4%±2.4Highest
MA: 18.6%
19%±3.2
MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #246 of 282 in MA #19 of 282 in MA #92 of 282 in MA
School district Clinton — Easthampton
High school in town Clinton Senior High — Easthampton High
Students per teacherat that high school
12.8Highest
—
9.8Lowest
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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.