Compare towns
Easthampton vs Putnam vs Thompson 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
Putnam has the most kids (18.6% under 18).
Thompson has the most homeowners (84.3%).
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 | Putnam | Thompson | Northampton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,086 |
9,292Lowest |
9,337 |
30,962Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | — | +3.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46±2.6 18% above U.S. |
43.7±3 12% above U.S. |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
41.3±2.2Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 15.5%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Putnam and Northampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23.9%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Thompson and Easthampton 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% |
20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
14%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $71,673±$7k 11% below U.S. |
$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$93,629±$18kHighest 16% above U.S. |
$80,288±$6k about the U.S. average |
| Thompson 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. |
$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$291,900±$24k 12% below U.S. |
$429,700±$17kHighest 29% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,292±$70 9% below U.S. |
$1,149±$44 19% below U.S. |
$1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,439±$75Highest about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,932 58% above U.S. |
$3,860 24% above U.S. |
$3,822Lowest 23% above U.S. |
$5,680Highest 82% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.5%±10.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±18.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.6%±6.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Northampton and Thompson 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% |
11.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
13.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
57.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966Highest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 16% below U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±3.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4 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 | #128 of 149 in CT | #130 of 149 in CT | #159 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Easthampton | Putnam School District | Thompson School District | Northampton · Northampton-Smith Vocational Agricultural |
| High school in town | Easthampton High | Putnam High School | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | Northampton High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8 |
9.5 |
7.9Lowest |
14.7Highest |
| 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.