Compare towns
Easthampton vs Northampton vs Holyoke
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 oldest population (median age 46).
Northampton has the most people working from home (24.1%).
Holyoke has the most kids (21.4% under 18).
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 | Northampton | Holyoke |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,086Lowest |
30,962 |
37,813Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +3.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-4.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46±2.6Highest 15% above MA |
41.3±2.2 3% above MA |
40±1.6Lowest about the MA average |
| Easthampton and Northampton 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% |
21.4%±1.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 23.9%±3Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.4%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
20.1%±1.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Easthampton and Northampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38% MA: 47.3% |
62.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
25.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.9 MA: 7.9% |
14%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.4%±0.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $71,673±$7k 31% below MA |
$80,288±$6kHighest 23% below MA |
$53,605±$3kLowest 48% below MA |
| Northampton and Easthampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $371,500±$15k 34% below MA |
$429,700±$17kHighest 24% below MA |
$274,100±$8kLowest 51% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,292±$70 27% below MA |
$1,439±$75Highest 18% below MA |
$1,021±$60Lowest 42% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,932 18% below MA |
$5,680Highest 5% below MA |
$4,065Lowest 32% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.5%±10.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.6%±6.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
51.7%±5.4 MA: 51.8% |
| Northampton and Holyoke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8%Lowest MA: 10% |
13.4% MA: 10% |
27%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
57.3% MA: 62.5% |
41.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966Highest 2 yrs newer than MA |
1955 9 yrs older than MA |
1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minHighest 23% below MA |
21 min 26% below MA |
19 minLowest 34% below MA |
| Work from home | 19%±3.2 MA: 18.6% |
24.1%±3.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
11.1%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Northampton and Easthampton 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 | #281 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Easthampton | Northampton · Northampton-Smith Vocational Agricultural | Holyoke · Springfield |
| High school in town | Easthampton High | Northampton High | Holyoke High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Lowest |
14.7Highest |
12.5 |
| 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.