Compare towns
Easthampton vs Maynard vs Hadley vs Northampton
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 affordable homes ($372k median).
Maynard has the most kids (16.9% under 18).
Hadley has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Northampton has the youngest population (median age 41.3).
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 | Maynard | Hadley | Northampton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,086 |
10,712 |
5,306Lowest |
30,962Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +6.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46±2.6Highest 15% above MA |
45.3±4.3 13% above MA |
45.8±7.1 15% above MA |
41.3±2.2Lowest 3% above MA |
| Easthampton and Hadley 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% |
16.9%±4.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.2%±4.6 MA: 19.4% |
16%±1.8 MA: 19.4% |
| Maynard and Hadley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23.9%±3 MA: 17.9% |
18.2%±3.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
24.2%±4.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.4%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
| Hadley and Easthampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
64.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
61.3% MA: 47.3% |
62.7% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.9 MA: 7.9% |
3.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
10.9%±5.7 MA: 7.9% |
14%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Northampton and Hadley 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 |
$124,067±$16kHighest 19% above MA |
$119,259±$12k 15% above MA |
$80,288±$6k 23% below MA |
| Maynard and Hadley 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 |
$527,400±$31kHighest 6% below MA |
$511,000±$43k 9% below MA |
$429,700±$17k 24% below MA |
| Maynard and Hadley 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 |
$1,800±$148Highest about the MA average |
$1,402±$132 20% below MA |
$1,439±$75 18% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,932Lowest 18% below MA |
$8,266Highest 38% above MA |
$5,271 12% below MA |
$5,680 5% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.5%±10.7 MA: 51.8% |
44.9%±9.6 MA: 51.8% |
38.6%±18.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.6%±6.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Northampton 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% |
8.3% MA: 10% |
6.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
13.4%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.4% MA: 62.5% |
75%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.4% MA: 62.5% |
57.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
1963 1 yr older than MA |
1971Highest 7 yrs newer than MA |
1955Lowest 9 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 23% below MA |
32 minHighest 9% above MA |
20 minLowest 33% below MA |
21 min 26% below MA |
| Work from home | 19%±3.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.9%±7.7 MA: 18.6% |
20.1%±7.4 MA: 18.6% |
24.1%±3.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Northampton and Maynard 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 | #166 of 282 in MA | #116 of 282 in MA | #159 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Easthampton | Maynard | Hadley | Northampton · Northampton-Smith Vocational Agricultural |
| High school in town | Easthampton High | Maynard High | Hopkins Academy | Northampton High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8 |
9.7 |
7.3Lowest |
14.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.