Compare towns
Clinton vs Northampton vs Lancaster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Clinton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.4%).
Northampton has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Lancaster has the highest household income ($135k).
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 | Clinton | Northampton | Lancaster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,563 |
30,962Highest |
8,606Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.8% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.6±2.7Lowest 4% below MA |
41.3±2.2 3% above MA |
43.1±4.9Highest 8% above MA |
| Lancaster and Northampton 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% |
16%±1.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.2%±4Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Lancaster and Clinton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.4%±1.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.9%±4.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Northampton and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
62.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
50.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±2 MA: 7.9% |
14%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $89,781±$10k 14% below MA |
$80,288±$6kLowest 23% below MA |
$134,833±$27kHighest 30% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $387,300±$19kLowest 31% below MA |
$429,700±$17k 24% below MA |
$519,100±$60kHighest 8% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,402±$76Lowest 20% below MA |
$1,439±$75 18% below MA |
$2,338±$539Highest 33% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,654Lowest 22% below MA |
$5,680 5% below MA |
$7,235Highest 21% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.3%±6.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.6%±6.7 MA: 51.8% |
68.3%±36.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Lancaster and Northampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.6% MA: 10% |
13.4%Highest MA: 10% |
1.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 54.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
57.3% MA: 62.5% |
85.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956 8 yrs older than MA |
1955Lowest 9 yrs older than MA |
1971Highest 7 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min about the MA average |
21 minLowest 26% below MA |
32 minHighest 9% above MA |
| Work from home | 14.2%±4.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
24.1%±3.4 MA: 18.6% |
33.6%±9.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Lancaster and Northampton 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 | #246 of 282 in MA | #159 of 282 in MA | #145 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Clinton | Northampton · Northampton-Smith Vocational Agricultural | Nashoba |
| High school in town | Clinton Senior High | Northampton High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Lowest |
14.7Highest |
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| 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.