Compare towns

Easthampton vs Fall River 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%).
Fall River has the most renters (64.7% rent).
Northbridge has the highest household income ($111k).

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.

MeasureEasthamptonFall RiverNorthbridge
People
Population
16,086Lowest
94,082Highest
16,458
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+5.8%Highest
MA: +7.4%
+4%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
46±2.6Highest
15% above MA
39.3±1.2Lowest
about the MA average
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%±2.4Lowest
MA: 19.4%
19.9%±1.2
MA: 19.4%
21.1%±2.9Highest
MA: 19.4%
Northbridge and Fall River 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%
16.1%±0.9Lowest
MA: 17.9%
16.4%±2.1
MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
38%Highest
MA: 47.3%
16.4%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
36.9%
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.1%±1.9Highest
MA: 7.9%
4.1%±0.6Lowest
MA: 7.9%
4.3%±1.3
MA: 7.9%
Easthampton and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$71,673±$7k
31% below MA
$56,673±$3kLowest
45% below MA
$111,319±$19kHighest
7% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$371,500±$15kLowest
34% below MA
$395,500±$11k
30% below MA
$448,600±$15kHighest
20% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,292±$70Highest
27% below MA
$1,155±$27Lowest
34% below MA
$1,207±$102
31% below MA
Easthampton and Northbridge 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
$3,953Lowest
34% below MA
$4,821
20% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
45.5%±10.7Lowest
MA: 51.8%
52.5%±3.3Highest
MA: 51.8%
51.2%±9.8
MA: 51.8%
Fall River and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
8%
MA: 10%
19.6%Highest
MA: 10%
7.9%Lowest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
58.4%
MA: 62.5%
35.3%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
70.5%Highest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1966
2 yrs newer than MA
1945Lowest
19 yrs older than MA
1973Highest
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%
7.1%±1.2Lowest
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 #262 of 282 in MA #226 of 282 in MA
School district Easthampton Fall River · Greater Fall River Regional Vocational Technical Northbridge
High school in town Easthampton High B M C Durfee High Northbridge High
Students per teacherat that high school
9.8Lowest
11.3Highest
10.8
On TownTapestry
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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.