What stands out worked out from the figures below

Easthampton has the most affordable homes ($372k median).

Framingham has the most expensive homes ($627k median).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Easthampton	Framingham
People
Population	16,086Lowest	72,399Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	+5.9% MA: +7.4%
Median age	46±2.6Highest 15% above MA	37.5±1Lowest 6% below MA
Kids under 18	15.5%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4%	21.7%±1.6Highest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	23.9%±3Highest MA: 17.9%	15.1%±1.1Lowest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	38%Lowest MA: 47.3%	48.7%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.1%±1.9Lowest MA: 7.9%	6.5%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9%
	Framingham 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	$107,419±$6kHighest 3% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$371,500±$15kLowest 34% below MA	$627,300±$10kHighest 12% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,292±$70Lowest 27% below MA	$2,033±$57Highest 15% above MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,932Lowest 18% below MA	$6,884Highest 15% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45.5%±10.7Lowest MA: 51.8%	53.4%±5.6Highest MA: 51.8%
	Framingham and Easthampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8%Lowest MA: 10%	10.4%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	58.4%Highest MA: 62.5%	54.8%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1966 2 yrs newer than MA	1966 2 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	22 minLowest 23% below MA	30 minHighest 4% above MA
Work from home	19%±3.2Lowest MA: 18.6%	19.6%±2.2Highest MA: 18.6%
	Framingham 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	#229 of 282 in MA
School district	Easthampton	Framingham · South Middlesex Regional Vocational Technical
High school in town	Easthampton High	Framingham High School
Students per teacherat that high school	9.8Lowest	12.7Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.