Compare towns
Easthampton vs Boston vs Northbridge
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 shortest commute (22 min average).
Boston has the most expensive homes ($732k median).
Northbridge has the most kids (21.1% 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 | Boston | Northbridge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,086Lowest |
666,442Highest |
16,458 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +9.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46±2.6Highest 15% above MA |
33.3±0.2Lowest 17% below MA |
43.8±2.6 9% above MA |
| Easthampton and Northbridge 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% |
21.1%±2.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 23.9%±3Highest MA: 17.9% |
13%±0.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
16.4%±2.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38% MA: 47.3% |
54.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
36.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.9 MA: 7.9% |
15%±0.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $71,673±$7kLowest 31% below MA |
$97,344±$2k 6% below MA |
$111,319±$19kHighest 7% above MA |
| Northbridge and Boston 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 |
$731,700±$10kHighest 30% above MA |
$448,600±$15k 20% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,292±$70 27% below MA |
$2,147±$25Highest 22% above MA |
$1,207±$102Lowest 31% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,932Highest 18% below MA |
$4,456Lowest 26% below MA |
$4,821 20% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.5%±10.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
51.2%±1.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
51.2%±9.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Below poverty line | 8% MA: 10% |
16.6%Highest MA: 10% |
7.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.4% MA: 62.5% |
35.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
70.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
1947Lowest 17 yrs older than MA |
1973Highest 9 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 23% below MA |
30 min 4% above MA |
31 minHighest 7% above MA |
| Work from home | 19%±3.2 MA: 18.6% |
21.3%±0.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Boston and Easthampton 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 | #226 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Easthampton | Edward M. Kennedy Academy for Health Careers: A Horace Mann · Boston | Northbridge |
| High school in town | Easthampton High | Boston Latin School | Northbridge High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Lowest |
18.7Highest |
10.8 |
| 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.