Compare towns
Easthampton vs Lawrence 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 most people working from home (19%).
Lawrence has the most renters (71.9% rent).
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 | Lawrence | Northbridge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,086Lowest |
88,736Highest |
16,458 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +16.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46±2.6Highest 15% above MA |
32.6±0.9Lowest 19% below 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% |
26.3%±1.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 23.9%±3Highest MA: 17.9% |
10.5%±0.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
16.4%±2.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38%Highest MA: 47.3% |
16.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
36.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±0.8 MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Easthampton and Lawrence 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 31% below MA |
$60,433±$3kLowest 42% below MA |
$111,319±$19kHighest 7% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $371,500±$15kLowest 34% below MA |
$415,200±$23k 26% below MA |
$448,600±$15kHighest 20% below MA |
| Northbridge and Lawrence 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 |
$1,662±$50Highest 6% below MA |
$1,207±$102Lowest 31% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,932Highest 18% below MA |
$3,422Lowest 43% below MA |
$4,821 20% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.5%±10.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
60.6%±3.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
51.2%±9.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Lawrence and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8% MA: 10% |
17.6%Highest MA: 10% |
7.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.4% MA: 62.5% |
28.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
70.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA |
1973Highest 9 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 23% below MA |
23 min 21% below MA |
31 minHighest 7% above MA |
| Work from home | 19%±3.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
6.8%±1.2Lowest 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 | #278 of 282 in MA | #226 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Easthampton | Lawrence | Northbridge |
| High school in town | Easthampton High | Lawrence High School | Northbridge High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Lowest |
13.6Highest |
10.8 |
| 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.