Compare towns

Easthampton vs Newark vs Northbridge

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Easthampton has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Newark has the most affordable homes ($230k median).
Northbridge has the highest household income ($111k).

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.

MeasureEasthamptonNewarkNorthbridge
People
Population
16,086
727Lowest
16,458Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+0.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
46±2.6Highest
18% above U.S.
41.4±6Lowest
6% above U.S.
43.8±2.6
13% above U.S.
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
U.S.: 22%
22%±3Highest
U.S.: 22%
21.1%±2.9
U.S.: 22%
Newark and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
23.9%±3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.9%±5.1
U.S.: 17.2%
16.4%±2.1Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Easthampton and Newark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
38%
U.S.: 35.7%
41%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
36.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.1%±1.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
0.6%±0.6Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.3%±1.3
U.S.: 6.4%
Easthampton and Northbridge 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
11% below U.S.
$72,929±$7k
10% below U.S.
$111,319±$19kHighest
38% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$371,500±$15k
12% above U.S.
$229,900±$23kLowest
31% below U.S.
$448,600±$15kHighest
35% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,292±$70
9% below U.S.
$1,708±$97Highest
21% above U.S.
$1,207±$102Lowest
15% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,932Highest
58% above U.S.
$3,771Lowest
21% above U.S.
$4,821
55% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
45.5%±10.7
U.S.: 51.1%
7.1%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
51.2%±9.8Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Northbridge and Easthampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
8%
U.S.: 12.5%
22.4%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
7.9%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
58.4%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
90.8%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
70.5%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1966Lowest
14 yrs older than U.S.
1980Highest
same as U.S.
1973
7 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
22 minLowest
16% below U.S.
34 minHighest
28% above U.S.
31 min
17% above U.S.
Work from home
19%±3.2Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
13.8%±8.2Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
16.2%±3.6
U.S.: 15.1%
Easthampton and Northbridge 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 — #226 of 282 in MA
School district Easthampton Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 Northbridge
High school in town Easthampton High None in town Northbridge High
Students per teacherat that high school
9.8Lowest
—
10.8Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet None yet None yet

U.S. 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.