Compare towns
Easthampton vs Northbridge vs Rowley
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 shortest commute (22 min average).
Northbridge has the most kids (21.1% under 18).
Rowley has the most expensive homes ($667k 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.
| Measure | Easthampton | Northbridge | Rowley |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,086 |
16,458Highest |
6,251Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+5.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46±2.6 15% above MA |
43.8±2.6Lowest 9% above MA |
50±6.3Highest 25% above MA |
| Rowley 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% |
21.1%±2.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.3%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Northbridge and Rowley 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% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.6%±4.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Easthampton and Rowley 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% |
36.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
56.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Easthampton and Rowley 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 |
$111,319±$19k 7% above MA |
$132,734±$32kHighest 28% above MA |
| Rowley and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $371,500±$15kLowest 34% below MA |
$448,600±$15k 20% below MA |
$667,300±$52kHighest 19% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,292±$70 27% below MA |
$1,207±$102Lowest 31% below MA |
$1,603±$520Highest 9% below MA |
| Rowley and Easthampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,932 18% below MA |
$4,821Lowest 20% below MA |
$8,309Highest 39% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.5%±10.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
51.2%±9.8 MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±27.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Rowley and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8%Highest MA: 10% |
7.9% MA: 10% |
3.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
70.5% MA: 62.5% |
81.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966Lowest 2 yrs newer than MA |
1973 9 yrs newer than MA |
1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 23% below MA |
31 minHighest 7% above MA |
28 min 3% below MA |
| Work from home | 19%±3.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
11.1%±4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| 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 | #214 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Easthampton | Northbridge | Triton |
| High school in town | Easthampton High | Northbridge High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Lowest |
10.8Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.