Compare towns
Easthampton vs Jefferson 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).
Jefferson has the most homeowners (90.5%).
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 | Jefferson | Northbridge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,086 |
1,013Lowest |
16,458Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -5.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46±2.6 18% above U.S. |
58±3.5Highest 49% above U.S. |
43.8±2.6Lowest 13% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 15.5%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
12.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 23.9%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
33.7%±9.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Jefferson and Easthampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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±$7k 11% below U.S. |
$67,188±$13kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$111,319±$19kHighest 38% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $371,500±$15k 12% above U.S. |
$296,700±$92kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$448,600±$15kHighest 35% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,292±$70Highest 9% below U.S. |
$867±$156Lowest 39% 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. |
$4,196Lowest 35% above U.S. |
$4,821 55% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.5%±10.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±71.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.2%±9.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Northbridge and Easthampton 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% |
8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 16% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±3.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.5%±6.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Easthampton and Jefferson 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 | — | #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 | 14 photos → | 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.