Compare towns
Easthampton vs Hanson 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).
Hanson has the most homeowners (100%).
Northbridge has the youngest population (median age 43.8).
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 | Hanson | Northbridge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,086 |
1,927Lowest |
16,458Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -4.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46±2.6Highest 15% above MA |
44±4.3 10% above MA |
43.8±2.6Lowest 9% above MA |
| Easthampton and Hanson 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% |
25%±5.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Hanson and Northbridge 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% |
19.7%±4.5 MA: 17.9% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Easthampton and Hanson 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% |
35.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
36.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
0.5%±1Lowest 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±$7kLowest 31% below MA |
$119,211±$24kHighest 15% above MA |
$111,319±$19k 7% above MA |
| Hanson 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±$15kLowest 34% below MA |
$513,000±$55kHighest 9% below MA |
$448,600±$15k 20% below MA |
| Hanson and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,292±$70Highest 27% below MA |
— | $1,207±$102Lowest 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 | $4,932 18% below MA |
$6,429Highest 7% above MA |
$4,821Lowest 20% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.5%±10.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
— | 51.2%±9.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Northbridge and Easthampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8%Highest MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
100%Highest MA: 62.5% |
70.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966Lowest 2 yrs newer than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1973Highest 9 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 23% below MA |
37 minHighest 26% above MA |
31 min 7% above MA |
| Work from home | 19%±3.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
11.2%±5.6Lowest 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 | #149 of 282 in MA | #226 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Easthampton | — | Northbridge |
| High school in town | Easthampton High | — | Northbridge High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Lowest |
— | 10.8Highest |
| 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.