Compare towns
Easthampton vs Bourne 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 most people working from home (19%).
Bourne has the most expensive homes ($576k 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 | Bourne | Northbridge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,086Lowest |
20,323Highest |
16,458 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +3.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46±2.6 15% above MA |
52±1.8Highest 30% above MA |
43.8±2.6Lowest 9% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 15.5%±2.4 MA: 19.4% |
14.7%±2.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±2.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 23.9%±3 MA: 17.9% |
29.8%±3.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bourne and Easthampton 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% |
46%Highest MA: 47.3% |
36.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.9 MA: 7.9% |
6.6%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Bourne and Easthampton 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 |
$91,058±$7k 12% below MA |
$111,319±$19kHighest 7% above MA |
| Northbridge and Bourne 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 |
$575,600±$28kHighest about the MA average |
$448,600±$15k 20% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,292±$70 27% below MA |
$1,379±$300Highest 22% below MA |
$1,207±$102Lowest 31% below MA |
| Bourne and Easthampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,932Highest 18% below MA |
$4,485Lowest 25% below MA |
$4,821 20% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.5%±10.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
62.8%±5.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
51.2%±9.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Bourne and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8%Highest MA: 10% |
6.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
75.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
70.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966Lowest 2 yrs newer than MA |
1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1973 9 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 23% below MA |
26 min 11% below MA |
31 minHighest 7% above MA |
| Work from home | 19%±3.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
14.9%±3.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
| Easthampton and Northbridge 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 | #206 of 282 in MA | #226 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Easthampton | Bourne · Upper Cape Cod Regional Vocational Technical | Northbridge |
| High school in town | Easthampton High | Upper Cape Cod Vocational Technical | Northbridge High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Lowest |
9.8Lowest |
10.8Highest |
| 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.