Compare towns
Easthampton vs Springfield vs Northbridge
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 most people working from home (19%).
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($245k median).
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 | Springfield | Northbridge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,086Lowest |
154,749Highest |
16,458 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +1.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46±2.6Highest 15% above MA |
33.7±0.5Lowest 16% below MA |
43.8±2.6 9% above MA |
| 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 MA: 19.4% |
24.2%±0.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Springfield and Northbridge 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% |
13.2%±0.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
16.4%±2.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38%Highest MA: 47.3% |
20.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
36.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.9 MA: 7.9% |
7.5%±0.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Springfield 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 |
$52,656±$2kLowest 49% below MA |
$111,319±$19kHighest 7% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $371,500±$15k 34% below MA |
$245,000±$4kLowest 56% below MA |
$448,600±$15kHighest 20% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,292±$70Highest 27% below MA |
$1,144±$55Lowest 35% below MA |
$1,207±$102 31% below MA |
| Easthampton and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,932Highest 18% below MA |
$3,695Lowest 38% below MA |
$4,821 20% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.5%±10.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±3.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
51.2%±9.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Springfield and Northbridge 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% |
7.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.4% MA: 62.5% |
49.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
70.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
1952Lowest 12 yrs older than MA |
1973Highest 9 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 23% below MA |
20 minLowest 31% below MA |
31 minHighest 7% above MA |
| Work from home | 19%±3.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
8.4%±0.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
| 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 | #276 of 282 in MA | #226 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Easthampton | Springfield | Northbridge |
| High school in town | Easthampton High | Springfield Central High | Northbridge High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Lowest |
12.2Highest |
10.8 |
| 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.