Compare towns
Easthampton vs Wareham vs Northampton 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 affordable homes ($372k median).
Wareham has the most homeowners (83.5%).
Northampton has the most people working from home (24.1%).
Northbridge has the most kids (21.1% under 18).
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 | Wareham | Northampton | Northbridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,086Lowest |
23,302 |
30,962Highest |
16,458 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +6.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46±2.6 15% above MA |
52.1±3.1Highest 30% above MA |
41.3±2.2Lowest 3% above MA |
43.8±2.6 9% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 15.5%±2.4 MA: 19.4% |
13.1%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
16%±1.8 MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±2.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 23.9%±3 MA: 17.9% |
26.2%±3.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.4%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Wareham 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% |
27.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
62.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
36.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.9 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
14%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $71,673±$7kLowest 31% below MA |
$90,383±$11k 13% below MA |
$80,288±$6k 23% below MA |
$111,319±$19kHighest 7% above MA |
| Northbridge and Wareham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $371,500±$15kLowest 34% below MA |
$424,500±$21k 24% below MA |
$429,700±$17k 24% below MA |
$448,600±$15kHighest 20% below MA |
| Northbridge and Northampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,292±$70 27% below MA |
$1,504±$180Highest 15% below MA |
$1,439±$75 18% below MA |
$1,207±$102Lowest 31% below MA |
| Wareham and Northampton 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 |
$4,341Lowest 28% below MA |
$5,680Highest 5% below MA |
$4,821 20% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.5%±10.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
51.4%±23.3 MA: 51.8% |
57.6%±6.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
51.2%±9.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Northampton and Wareham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8% MA: 10% |
6.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
13.4%Highest MA: 10% |
7.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.4% MA: 62.5% |
83.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
57.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
70.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
1958 6 yrs older than MA |
1955Lowest 9 yrs older than MA |
1973Highest 9 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 23% below MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
21 minLowest 26% below MA |
31 minHighest 7% above MA |
| Work from home | 19%±3.2 MA: 18.6% |
12.4%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
24.1%±3.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
| 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 | #272 of 282 in MA | #159 of 282 in MA | #226 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Easthampton | Wareham | Northampton · Northampton-Smith Vocational Agricultural | Northbridge |
| High school in town | Easthampton High | Wareham Senior High | Northampton High | Northbridge High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8 |
8.6Lowest |
14.7Highest |
10.8 |
| 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.