Compare towns
Easthampton vs Plainfield vs Putnam vs Southampton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Easthampton has the most people working from home (19%).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
Putnam has the most affordable homes ($269k median).
Southampton has the highest household income ($123k).
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 | Plainfield | Putnam | Southampton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,086Highest |
15,141 |
9,292 |
6,230Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | — | +7.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46±2.6Highest 18% above U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
43.7±3 12% above U.S. |
43.4±3.5 12% above U.S. |
| Easthampton and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.5%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±4 U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield and Southampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23.9%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±4.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Easthampton and Southampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38% U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
20% U.S.: 35.7% |
41.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Easthampton and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $71,673±$7k 11% below U.S. |
$76,993±$8k 5% below U.S. |
$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$123,125±$23kHighest 53% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $371,500±$15k 12% above U.S. |
$272,100±$16k 18% below U.S. |
$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$452,300±$25kHighest 36% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,292±$70Highest 9% below U.S. |
$1,204±$70 15% below U.S. |
$1,149±$44Lowest 19% below U.S. |
— |
| Easthampton and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,932 58% above U.S. |
$4,209 35% above U.S. |
$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S. |
$5,470Highest 75% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.5%±10.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
26.2%±18.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Easthampton and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 16% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
22 min 15% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±3.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.2%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #92 of 282 in MA | #131 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT | #205 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Easthampton | Plainfield School District | Putnam School District | Southampton |
| High school in town | Easthampton High | Plainfield High School | Putnam High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8 |
10.3Highest |
9.5Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.