Compare towns
Easthampton vs Plainville vs Northampton
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 oldest population (median age 46).
Plainville has the most affordable homes ($254k median).
Northampton has the most people working from home (24.1%).
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 | Plainville | Northampton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,086Lowest |
17,551 |
30,962Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +3.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46±2.6Highest 18% above U.S. |
44.3±1.5 14% above U.S. |
41.3±2.2Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Easthampton and Plainville 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% |
15.6%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
16%±1.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Northampton and Plainville 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% |
20.1%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
30%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
14%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $71,673±$7kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$84,343±$7kHighest 4% above U.S. |
$80,288±$6k about the U.S. average |
| Plainville and Northampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $371,500±$15k 12% above U.S. |
$254,000±$14kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$429,700±$17kHighest 29% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,292±$70 9% below U.S. |
$1,126±$147Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,439±$75Highest about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,932 58% above U.S. |
$4,798Lowest 54% above U.S. |
$5,680Highest 82% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.5%±10.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.6%±6.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Northampton and Easthampton 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% |
6.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
13.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
57.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minHighest 16% below U.S. |
21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
21 min 19% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±3.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.7%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.1%±3.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #89 of 149 in CT | #159 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Easthampton | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District | Northampton · Northampton-Smith Vocational Agricultural |
| High school in town | Easthampton High | Plainville High School | Northampton High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Lowest |
11.4 |
14.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.