What stands out worked out from the figures below

Easthampton has the most homeowners (58.4%).

Malden has the most expensive homes ($634k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Easthampton	Malden
People
Population	16,086Lowest	65,906Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	+11.5% MA: +7.4%
Median age	46±2.6Highest 15% above MA	35.8±1Lowest 11% below MA
Kids under 18	15.5%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4%	18.2%±1.7Highest MA: 19.4%
	Malden and Easthampton 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%	13%±1.2Lowest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	38%Lowest MA: 47.3%	45.1%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.1%±1.9Lowest MA: 7.9%	9.1%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9%
	Malden 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±$7kLowest 31% below MA	$100,606±$6kHighest 3% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$371,500±$15kLowest 34% below MA	$633,500±$26kHighest 13% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,292±$70Lowest 27% below MA	$2,204±$62Highest 25% above MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,932Lowest 18% below MA	$4,995Highest 17% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45.5%±10.7Lowest MA: 51.8%	51.2%±4.6Highest MA: 51.8%
	Malden and Easthampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8%Lowest MA: 10%	11.4%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	58.4%Highest MA: 62.5%	41.3%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1966Highest 2 yrs newer than MA	1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	22 minLowest 23% below MA	34 minHighest 18% above MA
Work from home	19%±3.2Lowest MA: 18.6%	19.8%±2.3Highest MA: 18.6%
	Malden and Easthampton 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	#184 of 282 in MA
School district	Easthampton	Malden
High school in town	Easthampton High	Malden High
Students per teacherat that high school	9.8Lowest	16.1Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.