Compare towns
Easthampton vs Salem vs Montague
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 oldest population (median age 46).
Salem has the most expensive homes ($543k median).
Montague has the most affordable homes ($282k 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 | Salem | Montague |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,086 |
44,795Highest |
8,482Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +7.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46±2.6Highest 15% above MA |
39.3±1.5Lowest about the MA average |
44.3±3.1 11% above MA |
| Easthampton and Montague 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% |
15.7%±1.7 MA: 19.4% |
19%±2.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Montague and Salem 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% |
17.2%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
23.5%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Easthampton and Montague 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% |
47.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
37.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.9 MA: 7.9% |
8.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Salem and Easthampton 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 31% below MA |
$85,153±$5kHighest 18% below MA |
$70,510±$12kLowest 32% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $371,500±$15k 34% below MA |
$542,800±$18kHighest 3% below MA |
$282,100±$17kLowest 50% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,292±$70 27% below MA |
$1,836±$84Highest 4% above MA |
$1,207±$115Lowest 31% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,932 18% below MA |
$6,114Highest about the MA average |
$3,922Lowest 35% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.5%±10.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
54.9%±4.8 MA: 51.8% |
64.6%±8.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Montague and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8%Lowest MA: 10% |
12.1%Highest MA: 10% |
11.5% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.4% MA: 62.5% |
49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
62.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966Highest 2 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1951 13 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 23% below MA |
29 minHighest about the MA average |
21 minLowest 28% below MA |
| Work from home | 19%±3.2 MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±2.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
14.9%±4.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Salem 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 | #248 of 282 in MA | #265 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Easthampton | Salem | Franklin County Regional Vocational Technical · Gill-Montague |
| High school in town | Easthampton High | Salem High | Franklin County Technical |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Lowest |
9.8Lowest |
11.7Highest |
| 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.