Compare towns

Easthampton vs Lowell vs Southampton

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%).
Lowell has the most renters (56.8% rent).
Southampton has the highest household income ($123k).

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.

MeasureEasthamptonLowellSouthampton
People
Population
16,086
118,368Highest
6,230Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+8.5%Highest
MA: +7.4%
+7.5%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
46±2.6Highest
15% above MA
35.6±0.8Lowest
11% below MA
43.4±3.5
9% above MA
Easthampton and Southampton 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%
21.7%±1.3Highest
MA: 19.4%
19.1%±4
MA: 19.4%
Lowell and Southampton 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%
12.6%±0.8Lowest
MA: 17.9%
21.9%±4.8
MA: 17.9%
Easthampton and Southampton 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%
30%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
41.1%Highest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.1%±1.9
MA: 7.9%
9.7%±0.6Highest
MA: 7.9%
4.7%±2.2Lowest
MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$71,673±$7kLowest
31% below MA
$78,658±$4k
24% below MA
$123,125±$23kHighest
18% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$371,500±$15kLowest
34% below MA
$429,200±$11k
24% below MA
$452,300±$25kHighest
20% below MA
Southampton and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,292±$70Lowest
27% below MA
$1,625±$40Highest
8% below MA
—
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,932
18% below MA
$4,499Lowest
25% below MA
$5,470Highest
9% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
45.5%±10.7
MA: 51.8%
52.4%±3.8Highest
MA: 51.8%
26.2%±18.4Lowest
MA: 51.8%
Lowell and Easthampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
8%
MA: 10%
16.9%Highest
MA: 10%
2.6%Lowest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
58.4%
MA: 62.5%
43.2%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
90.7%Highest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1966
2 yrs newer than MA
1953Lowest
11 yrs older than MA
1983Highest
19 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
22 minLowest
23% below MA
28 minHighest
4% below MA
22 min
23% below MA
Work from home
19%±3.2Highest
MA: 18.6%
10.6%±1.3
MA: 18.6%
8.2%±3.6Lowest
MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #92 of 282 in MA #255 of 282 in MA #205 of 282 in MA
School district Easthampton Lowell Southampton
High school in town Easthampton High Lowell High None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
9.8Lowest
14.8Highest
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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.