Compare towns
Easthampton vs Hooksett vs Holyoke 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 most people working from home (19%).
Hooksett has the most homeowners (80.6%).
Holyoke has the most renters (58.7% rent).
Northbridge has the most expensive homes ($449k 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.
| Measure | Easthampton | Hooksett | Holyoke | Northbridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,086 |
15,057Lowest |
37,813Highest |
16,458 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46±2.6Highest 18% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5 6% above U.S. |
40±1.6Lowest about the U.S. average |
43.8±2.6 13% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
21.4%±1.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Holyoke and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23.9%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.1%±1.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Easthampton and Holyoke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
25.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hooksett 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±$7k 11% below U.S. |
$117,962±$11kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$53,605±$3kLowest 34% below U.S. |
$111,319±$19k 38% above U.S. |
| Hooksett 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. |
$407,000±$26k 22% above U.S. |
$274,100±$8kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$448,600±$15kHighest 35% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,292±$70 9% below U.S. |
$1,661±$206Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,021±$60Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,207±$102 15% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,932 58% above U.S. |
$6,554Highest 110% above U.S. |
$4,065Lowest 30% above U.S. |
$4,821 55% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.5%±10.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.7%±5.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.2%±9.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Holyoke and Northbridge 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% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
27%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
41.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1950Lowest 30 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 16% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±3.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #30 of 120 in NH | #281 of 282 in MA | #226 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Easthampton | Hooksett School District | Holyoke · Springfield | Northbridge |
| High school in town | Easthampton High | None in town | Holyoke High | Northbridge High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Lowest |
— | 12.5Highest |
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.