Compare towns
Easthampton vs Gardner 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 oldest population (median age 46).
Gardner has the most affordable homes ($302k 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 | Gardner | Northampton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,086Lowest |
21,148 |
30,962Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +5.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46±2.6Highest 15% above MA |
43.7±2.3 9% above MA |
41.3±2.2Lowest 3% above MA |
| Easthampton and Gardner 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% |
18.3%±2.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
16%±1.8 MA: 19.4% |
| Gardner and Northampton 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% |
19.6%±2.2Lowest 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% MA: 47.3% |
23.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
62.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.9 MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
14%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $71,673±$7k 31% below MA |
$67,518±$8kLowest 35% below MA |
$80,288±$6kHighest 23% below MA |
| Northampton and Easthampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $371,500±$15k 34% below MA |
$301,600±$20kLowest 46% below MA |
$429,700±$17kHighest 24% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,292±$70 27% below MA |
$1,109±$51Lowest 37% below MA |
$1,439±$75Highest 18% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,932 18% below MA |
$4,150Lowest 31% below MA |
$5,680Highest 5% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.5%±10.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
49.7%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
57.6%±6.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Northampton and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8%Lowest MA: 10% |
13.7%Highest MA: 10% |
13.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.4% MA: 62.5% |
58.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
57.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966Highest 2 yrs newer than MA |
1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
1955 9 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 23% below MA |
31 minHighest 5% above MA |
21 minLowest 26% below MA |
| Work from home | 19%±3.2 MA: 18.6% |
13.3%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
24.1%±3.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Northampton 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 | #273 of 282 in MA | #159 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Easthampton | Gardner | Northampton · Northampton-Smith Vocational Agricultural |
| High school in town | Easthampton High | Gardner High | Northampton High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Lowest |
13.5 |
14.7Highest |
| 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.