Compare towns
Easthampton vs Lancaster 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).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
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 | Lancaster | Northbridge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,086 |
8,606Lowest |
16,458Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +4.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46±2.6Highest 15% above MA |
43.1±4.9Lowest 8% 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% |
19.2%±4 MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±2.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Northbridge and Lancaster 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% |
19.9%±4.2 MA: 17.9% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Easthampton and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38% MA: 47.3% |
50.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
36.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.8Lowest 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 |
$134,833±$27kHighest 30% above MA |
$111,319±$19k 7% above MA |
| Lancaster 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 |
$519,100±$60kHighest 8% below MA |
$448,600±$15k 20% below MA |
| Lancaster and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,292±$70 27% below MA |
$2,338±$539Highest 33% above MA |
$1,207±$102Lowest 31% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,932 18% below MA |
$7,235Highest 21% above MA |
$4,821Lowest 20% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.5%±10.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
68.3%±36.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
51.2%±9.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Lancaster and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8%Highest MA: 10% |
1.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
70.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966Lowest 2 yrs newer than MA |
1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
1973Highest 9 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 23% below MA |
32 minHighest 9% above MA |
31 min 7% above MA |
| Work from home | 19%±3.2 MA: 18.6% |
33.6%±9.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #92 of 282 in MA | #145 of 282 in MA | #226 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Easthampton | Nashoba | Northbridge |
| High school in town | Easthampton High | None in town | 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.