Compare towns
Easthampton vs Plainfield vs Webster vs Northbridge
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 most affordable homes ($272k median).
Webster has the oldest housing (typical home built 1962).
Northbridge has the highest household income ($111k).
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 | Webster | Northbridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,086 |
15,141Lowest |
17,748Highest |
16,458 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46±2.6Highest 18% above U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
39.9±2.9 about the U.S. average |
43.8±2.6 13% above U.S. |
| Easthampton and Northbridge 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%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Northbridge and Webster 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%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Easthampton and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
25.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9% 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% |
5.8%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Easthampton and Webster 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 11% below U.S. |
$76,993±$8k 5% below U.S. |
$72,895±$6k 10% below U.S. |
$111,319±$19kHighest 38% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $371,500±$15k 12% above U.S. |
$272,100±$16kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$361,500±$12k 9% above U.S. |
$448,600±$15kHighest 35% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,292±$70Highest 9% below U.S. |
$1,204±$70Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,228±$81 13% below U.S. |
$1,207±$102 15% below U.S. |
| Easthampton and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,932Highest 58% above U.S. |
$4,209 35% above U.S. |
$3,999Lowest 28% above U.S. |
$4,821 55% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.5%±10.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.7%±6.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
51.2%±9.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Northbridge and Webster 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% |
12.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1973Highest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 16% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±3.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
8%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #131 of 149 in CT | #271 of 282 in MA | #226 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Easthampton | Plainfield School District | Webster | Northbridge |
| High school in town | Easthampton High | Plainfield High School | Bartlett High School | Northbridge High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Lowest |
10.3 |
11.6Highest |
10.8 |
| 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.