Compare towns
Easthampton vs Springfield vs Northampton vs Hadley
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).
Springfield has the most kids (24.2% under 18).
Northampton has the most people working from home (24.1%).
Hadley has the highest household income ($119k).
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 | Springfield | Northampton | Hadley |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,086 |
154,749Highest |
30,962 |
5,306Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +1.9% MA: +7.4% |
+3.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46±2.6Highest 15% above MA |
33.7±0.5Lowest 16% below MA |
41.3±2.2 3% above MA |
45.8±7.1 15% above MA |
| Easthampton and Hadley 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% |
24.2%±0.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
16%±1.8 MA: 19.4% |
16.2%±4.6 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 23.9%±3 MA: 17.9% |
13.2%±0.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.4%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
24.2%±4.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Hadley 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% MA: 47.3% |
20.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
62.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
61.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
7.5%±0.5 MA: 7.9% |
14%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
10.9%±5.7 MA: 7.9% |
| Northampton and Hadley 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 |
$52,656±$2kLowest 49% below MA |
$80,288±$6k 23% below MA |
$119,259±$12kHighest 15% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $371,500±$15k 34% below MA |
$245,000±$4kLowest 56% below MA |
$429,700±$17k 24% below MA |
$511,000±$43kHighest 9% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,292±$70 27% below MA |
$1,144±$55Lowest 35% below MA |
$1,439±$75Highest 18% below MA |
$1,402±$132 20% below MA |
| Northampton and Hadley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,932 18% below MA |
$3,695Lowest 38% below MA |
$5,680Highest 5% below MA |
$5,271 12% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.5%±10.7 MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±3.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
57.6%±6.7 MA: 51.8% |
38.6%±18.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Springfield and Northampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8% MA: 10% |
25.8%Highest MA: 10% |
13.4% MA: 10% |
6.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.4% MA: 62.5% |
49.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
57.3% MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
1952Lowest 12 yrs older than MA |
1955 9 yrs older than MA |
1971Highest 7 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minHighest 23% below MA |
20 min 31% below MA |
21 min 26% below MA |
20 minLowest 33% below MA |
| Work from home | 19%±3.2 MA: 18.6% |
8.4%±0.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
24.1%±3.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
20.1%±7.4 MA: 18.6% |
| Northampton and Hadley 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 | #276 of 282 in MA | #159 of 282 in MA | #116 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Easthampton | Springfield | Northampton · Northampton-Smith Vocational Agricultural | Hadley |
| High school in town | Easthampton High | Springfield Central High | Northampton High | Hopkins Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8 |
12.2 |
14.7Highest |
7.3Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.