Compare towns

Easthampton vs Webster 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).
Webster has the youngest population (median age 39.9).
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.

MeasureEasthamptonWebsterNorthbridge
People
Population
16,086Lowest
17,748Highest
16,458
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+6%Highest
MA: +7.4%
+4%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
46±2.6Highest
15% above MA
39.9±2.9Lowest
about the MA average
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%
19.6%±2.9
MA: 19.4%
21.1%±2.9Highest
MA: 19.4%
Northbridge and Webster 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%±2.5
MA: 17.9%
16.4%±2.1Lowest
MA: 17.9%
Easthampton and Webster 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%
36.9%
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.1%±1.9Highest
MA: 7.9%
5.8%±1.6
MA: 7.9%
4.3%±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±$7kLowest
31% below MA
$72,895±$6k
30% below MA
$111,319±$19kHighest
7% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$371,500±$15k
34% below MA
$361,500±$12kLowest
36% below MA
$448,600±$15kHighest
20% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,292±$70Highest
27% below MA
$1,228±$81
30% below MA
$1,207±$102Lowest
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
$3,999Lowest
33% below MA
$4,821
20% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
45.5%±10.7Lowest
MA: 51.8%
45.7%±6.7
MA: 51.8%
51.2%±9.8Highest
MA: 51.8%
Northbridge and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
8%
MA: 10%
12.7%Highest
MA: 10%
7.9%Lowest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
58.4%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
59.8%
MA: 62.5%
70.5%Highest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1966
2 yrs newer than MA
1962Lowest
2 yrs older than MA
1973Highest
9 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
22 minLowest
23% below MA
31 min
5% above MA
31 minHighest
7% above MA
Work from home
19%±3.2Highest
MA: 18.6%
8%±2.5Lowest
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 #271 of 282 in MA #226 of 282 in MA
School district Easthampton Webster Northbridge
High school in town Easthampton High Bartlett High School Northbridge High
Students per teacherat that high school
9.8Lowest
11.6Highest
10.8
On TownTapestry
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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.