Compare towns
Easthampton vs Sterling 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).
Sterling has the most kids (22.8% under 18).
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 | Sterling | Northampton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,086 |
3,629Lowest |
30,962Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +3.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46±2.6Highest 18% above U.S. |
39.4±5.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
41.3±2.2 6% above U.S. |
| Easthampton and Northampton 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% |
22.8%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
16%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Sterling and Northampton 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% |
13%±3.8Lowest 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% |
18%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
14%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $71,673±$7kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$102,695±$12kHighest 27% above U.S. |
$80,288±$6k about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $371,500±$15k 12% above U.S. |
$283,400±$17kLowest 15% below U.S. |
$429,700±$17kHighest 29% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,292±$70Lowest 9% below U.S. |
— | $1,439±$75Highest about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,932 58% above U.S. |
$4,551Lowest 46% above U.S. |
$5,680Highest 82% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.5%±10.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
32%±18.1Lowest 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
13.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
57.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 16% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±3.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.6%±6.4Lowest 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 | #119 of 149 in CT | #159 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Easthampton | Sterling School District | Northampton · Northampton-Smith Vocational Agricultural |
| High school in town | Easthampton High | None in town | Northampton High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Lowest |
— | 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.