Compare towns
Easthampton vs Malden 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).
Malden has the most expensive homes ($634k median).
Northbridge has the most homeowners (70.5%).
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 | Malden | Northbridge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,086Lowest |
65,906Highest |
16,458 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +11.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46±2.6Highest 15% above MA |
35.8±1Lowest 11% 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% |
18.2%±1.7 MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±2.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Northbridge and Malden 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% |
16.4%±2.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38% MA: 47.3% |
45.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
36.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.9 MA: 7.9% |
9.1%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±1.3Lowest 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±$6k 3% below MA |
$111,319±$19kHighest 7% above MA |
| Northbridge and Malden 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 |
$633,500±$26kHighest 13% above MA |
$448,600±$15k 20% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,292±$70 27% below MA |
$2,204±$62Highest 25% above MA |
$1,207±$102Lowest 31% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,932 18% below MA |
$4,995Highest 17% below MA |
$4,821Lowest 20% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.5%±10.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
51.2%±4.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
51.2%±9.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Below poverty line | 8% MA: 10% |
11.4%Highest MA: 10% |
7.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.4% MA: 62.5% |
41.3%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 |
34 minHighest 18% above MA |
31 min 7% above MA |
| Work from home | 19%±3.2 MA: 18.6% |
19.8%±2.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±3.6Lowest 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 | #226 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Easthampton | Malden | Northbridge |
| High school in town | Easthampton High | Malden High | Northbridge High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Lowest |
16.1Highest |
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.