Compare towns

Easthampton vs Whately vs Northampton

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).
Whately has the most homeowners (88.2%).
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.

MeasureEasthamptonWhatelyNorthampton
People
Population
16,086
1,499Lowest
30,962Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+7.4%Highest
MA: +7.4%
+3.6%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
46±2.6
15% above MA
49.3±6.7Highest
23% above MA
41.3±2.2Lowest
3% above MA
Whately and Easthampton 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%
16.4%±3.8Highest
MA: 19.4%
16%±1.8
MA: 19.4%
Whately and Northampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
23.9%±3
MA: 17.9%
24.5%±6.3Highest
MA: 17.9%
20.4%±1.7Lowest
MA: 17.9%
Whately 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%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
47.6%
MA: 47.3%
62.7%Highest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.1%±1.9
MA: 7.9%
2.5%±1.4Lowest
MA: 7.9%
14%±1.4Highest
MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$71,673±$7kLowest
31% below MA
$116,563±$15kHighest
12% above MA
$80,288±$6k
23% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$371,500±$15kLowest
34% below MA
$431,500±$22kHighest
23% below MA
$429,700±$17k
24% below MA
Whately 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
$977±$125Lowest
45% below MA
$1,439±$75Highest
18% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,932Lowest
18% below MA
$5,027
16% below MA
$5,680Highest
5% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
45.5%±10.7
MA: 51.8%
26.7%±29Lowest
MA: 51.8%
57.6%±6.7Highest
MA: 51.8%
Northampton and Easthampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
8%
MA: 10%
5.4%Lowest
MA: 10%
13.4%Highest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
58.4%
MA: 62.5%
88.2%Highest
MA: 62.5%
57.3%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1966
2 yrs newer than MA
1974Highest
10 yrs newer than MA
1955Lowest
9 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
22 min
23% below MA
23 minHighest
21% below MA
21 minLowest
26% below MA
Work from home
19%±3.2Lowest
MA: 18.6%
20.4%±8.5
MA: 18.6%
24.1%±3.4Highest
MA: 18.6%
Northampton and Whately 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 — #159 of 282 in MA
School district Easthampton Whately 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

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.