Compare towns

Easthampton vs Webster vs Montague

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%).
Webster has the youngest population (median age 39.9).
Montague has the most affordable homes ($282k median).

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.

MeasureEasthamptonWebsterMontague
People
Population
16,086
17,748Highest
8,482Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+6%Highest
MA: +7.4%
+1.7%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
46±2.6Highest
15% above MA
39.9±2.9Lowest
about the MA average
44.3±3.1
11% above MA
Easthampton and Montague 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%
19.6%±2.9Highest
MA: 19.4%
19%±2.8
MA: 19.4%
Webster and Montague 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%
19.6%±2.5Lowest
MA: 17.9%
23.5%±3.2
MA: 17.9%
Easthampton and Montague 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%
25.3%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
37.5%
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.1%±1.9Highest
MA: 7.9%
5.8%±1.6
MA: 7.9%
3.7%±1.3Lowest
MA: 7.9%
Easthampton and Webster 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
$72,895±$6kHighest
30% below MA
$70,510±$12kLowest
32% below MA
Webster and Easthampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$371,500±$15kHighest
34% below MA
$361,500±$12k
36% below MA
$282,100±$17kLowest
50% below MA
Easthampton and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,292±$70Highest
27% below MA
$1,228±$81
30% below MA
$1,207±$115Lowest
31% below MA
Easthampton and Webster 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
$3,999
33% below MA
$3,922Lowest
35% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
45.5%±10.7Lowest
MA: 51.8%
45.7%±6.7
MA: 51.8%
64.6%±8.6Highest
MA: 51.8%
Below poverty line
8%Lowest
MA: 10%
12.7%Highest
MA: 10%
11.5%
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
58.4%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
59.8%
MA: 62.5%
62.7%Highest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1966Highest
2 yrs newer than MA
1962
2 yrs older than MA
1951Lowest
13 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
22 min
23% below MA
31 minHighest
5% above MA
21 minLowest
28% below MA
Work from home
19%±3.2Highest
MA: 18.6%
8%±2.5Lowest
MA: 18.6%
14.9%±4.2
MA: 18.6%
Easthampton and Montague 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 #271 of 282 in MA #265 of 282 in MA
School district Easthampton Webster Franklin County Regional Vocational Technical · Gill-Montague
High school in town Easthampton High Bartlett High School Franklin County Technical
Students per teacherat that high school
9.8Lowest
11.6
11.7Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story 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.