Compare towns
Easthampton vs Boston vs Northampton
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 affordable homes ($372k median).
Boston has the most expensive homes ($732k 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 | Easthampton | Boston | Northampton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,086Lowest |
666,442Highest |
30,962 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +9.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46±2.6Highest 15% above MA |
33.3±0.2Lowest 17% below MA |
41.3±2.2 3% above MA |
| Easthampton and Northampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.5%±2.4 MA: 19.4% |
15.1%±0.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
16%±1.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Northampton and Easthampton 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% |
13%±0.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.4%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
| Easthampton and Northampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
54.9% MA: 47.3% |
62.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
15%±0.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
14%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
| Boston and Northampton 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 |
$97,344±$2kHighest 6% below MA |
$80,288±$6k 23% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $371,500±$15kLowest 34% below MA |
$731,700±$10kHighest 30% above MA |
$429,700±$17k 24% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,292±$70Lowest 27% below MA |
$2,147±$25Highest 22% above MA |
$1,439±$75 18% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,932 18% below MA |
$4,456Lowest 26% below MA |
$5,680Highest 5% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.5%±10.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
51.2%±1.2 MA: 51.8% |
57.6%±6.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Northampton and Boston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8%Lowest MA: 10% |
16.6%Highest MA: 10% |
13.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
35.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
57.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966Highest 2 yrs newer than MA |
1947Lowest 17 yrs older than MA |
1955 9 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 23% below MA |
30 minHighest 4% above MA |
21 minLowest 26% below MA |
| Work from home | 19%±3.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
21.3%±0.5 MA: 18.6% |
24.1%±3.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Northampton and Boston 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 | #92 of 282 in MA | #258 of 282 in MA | #159 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Easthampton | Edward M. Kennedy Academy for Health Careers: A Horace Mann · Boston | Northampton · Northampton-Smith Vocational Agricultural |
| High school in town | Easthampton High | Boston Latin School | Northampton High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Lowest |
18.7Highest |
14.7 |
| 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.