What stands out worked out from the figures below

Easthampton has the most people working from home (19%).

North Adams has the most affordable homes ($196k 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	North Adams
People
Population	16,086Highest	12,606Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	-5.4% MA: +7.4%
Median age	46±2.6Highest 15% above MA	44.1±3.5Lowest 10% above MA
	Easthampton and North Adams 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%	15.7%±2.9Highest MA: 19.4%
	North Adams 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%	21.6%±2.6Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Easthampton and North Adams are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	38%Highest MA: 47.3%	28.4%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.1%±1.9Lowest MA: 7.9%	9.8%±2Highest MA: 7.9%
	North Adams 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±$7kHighest 31% below MA	$47,500±$7kLowest 54% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$371,500±$15kHighest 34% below MA	$195,900±$14kLowest 65% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,292±$70Highest 27% below MA	$793±$113Lowest 55% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,932Highest 18% below MA	$3,078Lowest 49% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45.5%±10.7Lowest MA: 51.8%	63.7%±11Highest MA: 51.8%
	North Adams 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%	18.6%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	58.4%Highest MA: 62.5%	51%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1966Highest 2 yrs newer than MA	1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	22 minHighest 23% below MA	17 minLowest 40% below MA
Work from home	19%±3.2Highest MA: 18.6%	9.2%±3.5Lowest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#92 of 282 in MA	#268 of 282 in MA
School district	Easthampton	North Adams · Northern Berkshire Regional Vocational Technical
High school in town	Easthampton High	Charles McCann Vocational Technical
Students per teacherat that high school	9.8Lowest	10.6Highest
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.