Compare towns
Easthampton vs Barre vs Southampton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Easthampton has the most people working from home (19%).
Southampton has the most kids (19.1% under 18).
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 | Easthampton | Barre | Southampton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,086Highest |
5,572Lowest |
6,230 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +2.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46±2.6Highest 15% above MA |
43.8±8.5 9% above MA |
43.4±3.5Lowest 9% above MA |
| Easthampton and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.5%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
15.8%±5.4 MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±4Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Southampton and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.9%±3Highest MA: 17.9% |
19%±5.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±4.8 MA: 17.9% |
| Easthampton and Southampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38% MA: 47.3% |
31.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
41.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±3.2 MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±2.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Easthampton and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $71,673±$7kLowest 31% below MA |
$107,727±$13k 4% above MA |
$123,125±$23kHighest 18% above MA |
| Southampton and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $371,500±$15kLowest 34% below MA |
$394,300±$55k 30% below MA |
$452,300±$25kHighest 20% below MA |
| Southampton and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,292±$70Highest 27% below MA |
$1,030±$713Lowest 42% below MA |
— |
| Easthampton and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,932Lowest 18% below MA |
$5,163 14% below MA |
$5,470Highest 9% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.5%±10.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
38.2%±27.5 MA: 51.8% |
26.2%±18.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Easthampton and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8% MA: 10% |
8.2%Highest MA: 10% |
2.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
75.8% MA: 62.5% |
90.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966Lowest 2 yrs newer than MA |
1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
1983Highest 19 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 23% below MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
22 min 23% below MA |
| Work from home | 19%±3.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
11.2%±4.6 MA: 18.6% |
8.2%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #92 of 282 in MA | #134 of 282 in MA | #205 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Easthampton | Quabbin | Southampton |
| High school in town | Easthampton High | Quabbin Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Lowest |
12.9Highest |
— |
| 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.