Compare towns

Easthampton vs Northampton vs Upton

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 youngest population (median age 41.3).
Upton has the highest household income ($156k).

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.

MeasureEasthamptonNorthamptonUpton
People
Population
16,086
30,962Highest
8,189Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+3.6%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+6.1%Highest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
46±2.6
15% above MA
41.3±2.2Lowest
3% above MA
46.4±4.8Highest
16% above MA
Upton and Easthampton 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%
23.2%±4.5Highest
MA: 19.4%
Age 65+
23.9%±3Highest
MA: 17.9%
20.4%±1.7Lowest
MA: 17.9%
20.7%±4.9
MA: 17.9%
Easthampton and Upton 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%
53.5%
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.1%±1.9
MA: 7.9%
14%±1.4Highest
MA: 7.9%
2.4%±1.3Lowest
MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$71,673±$7kLowest
31% below MA
$80,288±$6k
23% below MA
$155,508±$33kHighest
50% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$371,500±$15kLowest
34% below MA
$429,700±$17k
24% below MA
$576,700±$41kHighest
about the MA average
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,292±$70
27% below MA
$1,439±$75Highest
18% below MA
$948±$599Lowest
46% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,932Lowest
18% below MA
$5,680
5% below MA
$8,376Highest
40% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
45.5%±10.7Lowest
MA: 51.8%
57.6%±6.7Highest
MA: 51.8%
52.8%±31
MA: 51.8%
Northampton and Upton 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%
3.2%Lowest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
58.4%
MA: 62.5%
57.3%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
86.7%Highest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1966
2 yrs newer than MA
1955Lowest
9 yrs older than MA
1981Highest
17 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
22 min
23% below MA
21 minLowest
26% below MA
35 minHighest
22% above MA
Work from home
19%±3.2Lowest
MA: 18.6%
24.1%±3.4Highest
MA: 18.6%
22.8%±5.3
MA: 18.6%
Northampton and Upton 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 #46 of 282 in MA
School district Easthampton Northampton · Northampton-Smith Vocational Agricultural Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton
High school in town Easthampton High Northampton High Blackstone Valley
Students per teacherat that high school
9.8Lowest
14.7Highest
11.2
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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.