Compare towns
Dedham vs Easthampton vs Northampton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dedham has the highest household income ($129k).
Easthampton has the most affordable homes ($372k median).
Northampton has the most people working from home (24.1%).
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 | Dedham | Easthampton | Northampton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 25,237 |
16,086Lowest |
30,962Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
— | +3.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6 12% above MA |
46±2.6Highest 15% above MA |
41.3±2.2Lowest 3% above MA |
| Easthampton and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±1.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.5%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
16%±1.8 MA: 19.4% |
| Dedham and Northampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±2 MA: 17.9% |
23.9%±3Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.4%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Easthampton and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55% MA: 47.3% |
38%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
62.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.1%±1.9 MA: 7.9% |
14%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $128,955±$10kHighest 24% above MA |
$71,673±$7kLowest 31% below MA |
$80,288±$6k 23% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $661,800±$16kHighest 18% above MA |
$371,500±$15kLowest 34% below MA |
$429,700±$17k 24% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA |
$1,292±$70Lowest 27% below MA |
$1,439±$75 18% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,918Highest 32% above MA |
$4,932Lowest 18% below MA |
$5,680 5% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10 MA: 51.8% |
45.5%±10.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.6%±6.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Northampton and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
8% MA: 10% |
13.4%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
58.4% MA: 62.5% |
57.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956 8 yrs older than MA |
1966Highest 2 yrs newer than MA |
1955Lowest 9 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest about the MA average |
22 min 23% below MA |
21 minLowest 26% below MA |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
19%±3.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
24.1%±3.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Northampton and Dedham 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 | #119 of 282 in MA | #92 of 282 in MA | #159 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dedham | Easthampton | Northampton · Northampton-Smith Vocational Agricultural |
| High school in town | Dedham High | Easthampton High | Northampton High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4 |
9.8Lowest |
14.7Highest |
| 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.