Compare towns
Easthampton vs Gardner vs Ogunquit vs Northbridge
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
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).
Ogunquit has the most people working from home (43.3%).
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 | Gardner | Ogunquit | Northbridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,086 |
21,148Highest |
1,379Lowest |
16,458 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +5.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46±2.6 18% above U.S. |
43.7±2.3Lowest 12% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
43.8±2.6 13% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 15.5%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Northbridge and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23.9%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38% U.S.: 35.7% |
23.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 11% below U.S. |
$67,518±$8kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$114,259±$56kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$111,319±$19k 38% above U.S. |
| Ogunquit and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $371,500±$15k 12% above U.S. |
$301,600±$20kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$448,600±$15k 35% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,292±$70Highest 9% below U.S. |
$1,109±$51Lowest 22% below U.S. |
— | $1,207±$102 15% below U.S. |
| 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 58% above U.S. |
$4,150Lowest 33% above U.S. |
$4,473 43% above U.S. |
$4,821 55% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.5%±10.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
49.7%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.2%±9.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Northbridge and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8% U.S.: 12.5% |
13.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
58.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 16% below U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±3.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.