Compare towns
Easthampton vs Needham 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 renters (41.6% rent).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Southampton has the most homeowners (90.7%).
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 | Needham | Southampton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,086 |
32,459Highest |
6,230Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+7.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46±2.6Highest 15% above MA |
43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above 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% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±4 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 23.9%±3Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest 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%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
41.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±2.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Easthampton and Needham 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 |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$123,125±$23k 18% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $371,500±$15kLowest 34% below MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$452,300±$25k 20% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,292±$70Lowest 27% below MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,932Lowest 18% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$5,470 9% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.5%±10.7 MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
26.2%±18.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Needham and Easthampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8%Highest MA: 10% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
2.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.1% MA: 62.5% |
90.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
1983Highest 19 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 23% below MA |
28 minHighest 5% below MA |
22 min 23% below MA |
| Work from home | 19%±3.2 MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
8.2%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #92 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #205 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Easthampton | — | Southampton |
| High school in town | Easthampton High | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8 |
— | — |
| 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.