Compare towns
Easthampton vs Gardner 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).
Gardner has the most affordable homes ($302k median).
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.
| Measure | Easthampton | Gardner | Northbridge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,086Lowest |
21,148Highest |
16,458 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +5.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46±2.6Highest 15% above MA |
43.7±2.3Lowest 9% above 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%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.3%±2.3 MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±2.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Northbridge and Gardner 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%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Easthampton and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38%Highest MA: 47.3% |
23.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
36.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Easthampton and Gardner 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 |
$67,518±$8kLowest 35% below MA |
$111,319±$19kHighest 7% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $371,500±$15k 34% below MA |
$301,600±$20kLowest 46% below MA |
$448,600±$15kHighest 20% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,292±$70Highest 27% below MA |
$1,109±$51Lowest 37% 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 |
$4,150Lowest 31% below MA |
$4,821 20% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.5%±10.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
49.7%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
51.2%±9.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Northbridge and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8% MA: 10% |
13.7%Highest MA: 10% |
7.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
58.9% MA: 62.5% |
70.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
1973Highest 9 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 23% below MA |
31 min 5% above MA |
31 minHighest 7% above MA |
| Work from home | 19%±3.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
13.3%±3.6Lowest 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 | #273 of 282 in MA | #226 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Easthampton | Gardner | Northbridge |
| High school in town | Easthampton High | Gardner High | Northbridge High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Lowest |
13.5Highest |
10.8 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.