Compare towns

Easthampton vs Northampton vs Hadley

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).
Northampton has the most people working from home (24.1%).
Hadley has the highest household income ($119k).

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.

MeasureEasthamptonNorthamptonHadley
People
Population
16,086
30,962Highest
5,306Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+3.6%Highest
MA: +7.4%
+1.4%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
46±2.6Highest
15% above MA
41.3±2.2Lowest
3% above MA
45.8±7.1
15% 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%±1.8
MA: 19.4%
16.2%±4.6Highest
MA: 19.4%
Hadley and Northampton 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%
20.4%±1.7Lowest
MA: 17.9%
24.2%±4.8Highest
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%
62.7%Highest
MA: 47.3%
61.3%
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.1%±1.9Lowest
MA: 7.9%
14%±1.4Highest
MA: 7.9%
10.9%±5.7
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
$80,288±$6k
23% below MA
$119,259±$12kHighest
15% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$371,500±$15kLowest
34% below MA
$429,700±$17k
24% below MA
$511,000±$43kHighest
9% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,292±$70Lowest
27% below MA
$1,439±$75Highest
18% below MA
$1,402±$132
20% below MA
Northampton and Hadley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,932Lowest
18% below MA
$5,680Highest
5% below MA
$5,271
12% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
45.5%±10.7
MA: 51.8%
57.6%±6.7Highest
MA: 51.8%
38.6%±18.9Lowest
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%
13.4%Highest
MA: 10%
6.4%Lowest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
58.4%
MA: 62.5%
57.3%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
73.4%Highest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1966
2 yrs newer than MA
1955Lowest
9 yrs older than MA
1971Highest
7 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
22 minHighest
23% below MA
21 min
26% below MA
20 minLowest
33% below MA
Work from home
19%±3.2Lowest
MA: 18.6%
24.1%±3.4Highest
MA: 18.6%
20.1%±7.4
MA: 18.6%
Northampton and Hadley 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 #159 of 282 in MA #116 of 282 in MA
School district Easthampton Northampton · Northampton-Smith Vocational Agricultural Hadley
High school in town Easthampton High Northampton High Hopkins Academy
Students per teacherat that high school
9.8
14.7Highest
7.3Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story 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.