Compare towns

Easthampton vs Ware vs Warren 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 shortest commute (22 min average).
Ware has the most affordable homes ($290k median).
Warren has the youngest population (median age 38.7).
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.

MeasureEasthamptonWareWarrenNorthbridge
People
Population
16,086
10,048
5,009Lowest
16,458Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+2%
MA: +7.4%
-3.1%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+4%Highest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
46±2.6Highest
15% above MA
43.1±4.7
8% above MA
38.7±7.3Lowest
3% 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%
19.1%±3.5
MA: 19.4%
20.8%±8
MA: 19.4%
21.1%±2.9Highest
MA: 19.4%
Northbridge and Warren 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%
20.6%±3.4
MA: 17.9%
14.6%±4.5Lowest
MA: 17.9%
16.4%±2.1
MA: 17.9%
Easthampton and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
38%Highest
MA: 47.3%
24%
MA: 47.3%
23.2%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
36.9%
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.1%±1.9Highest
MA: 7.9%
4.4%±2.2
MA: 7.9%
2.9%±2.1Lowest
MA: 7.9%
4.3%±1.3
MA: 7.9%
Easthampton and Ware 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
$67,475±$15k
35% below MA
$66,082±$6kLowest
36% below MA
$111,319±$19kHighest
7% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$371,500±$15k
34% below MA
$289,700±$28kLowest
48% below MA
$333,700±$35k
41% below MA
$448,600±$15kHighest
20% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,292±$70Highest
27% below MA
$1,043±$109
41% below MA
$890±$174Lowest
49% 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
$4,237Lowest
29% below MA
$4,530
24% below MA
$4,821
20% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
45.5%±10.7
MA: 51.8%
64.3%±16.2Highest
MA: 51.8%
29.7%±18.4Lowest
MA: 51.8%
51.2%±9.8
MA: 51.8%
Ware 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%
11.8%Highest
MA: 10%
9%
MA: 10%
7.9%Lowest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
58.4%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
72.3%Highest
MA: 62.5%
64.5%
MA: 62.5%
70.5%
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1966
2 yrs newer than MA
1960Lowest
4 yrs older than MA
1975Highest
11 yrs newer than MA
1973
9 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
22 minLowest
23% below MA
28 min
about the MA average
33 minHighest
13% above MA
31 min
7% above MA
Work from home
19%±3.2Highest
MA: 18.6%
12.3%±3.8
MA: 18.6%
8.5%±5.4Lowest
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 #267 of 282 in MA #165 of 282 in MA #226 of 282 in MA
School district Easthampton Ware Quaboag Regional Northbridge
High school in town Easthampton High Ware Junior/Senior High School Quaboag Regional High Northbridge High
Students per teacherat that high school
9.8Lowest
11.1Highest
10.0
10.8
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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.