Compare towns
Easthampton vs Windsor Locks vs Hadley vs Northampton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Easthampton has the oldest population (median age 46).
Windsor Locks has the most affordable homes ($259k median).
Hadley has the highest household income ($119k).
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.
| Measure | Easthampton | Windsor Locks | Hadley | Northampton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,086 |
12,579 |
5,306Lowest |
30,962Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +1.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46±2.6Highest 18% above U.S. |
41.4±2.6 6% above U.S. |
45.8±7.1 18% above U.S. |
41.3±2.2Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Easthampton and Hadley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.5%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
16%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Windsor Locks and Hadley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23.9%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.2%±4.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hadley 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
61.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
10.9%±5.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
14%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Northampton and Hadley 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 11% below U.S. |
$81,205±$13k about the U.S. average |
$119,259±$12kHighest 48% above U.S. |
$80,288±$6k about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $371,500±$15k 12% above U.S. |
$258,800±$14kLowest 22% below U.S. |
$511,000±$43kHighest 54% above U.S. |
$429,700±$17k 29% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,292±$70Lowest 9% below U.S. |
$1,394±$187 about the U.S. average |
$1,402±$132 about the U.S. average |
$1,439±$75Highest about the U.S. average |
| Northampton and Hadley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,932 58% above U.S. |
$3,688Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$5,271 69% above U.S. |
$5,680Highest 82% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.5%±10.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
58.2%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.6%±18.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.6%±6.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windsor Locks and Northampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
13.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
57.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minHighest 16% below U.S. |
22 min 17% below U.S. |
20 minLowest 26% below U.S. |
21 min 19% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±3.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.1%±7.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
24.1%±3.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Northampton and Hadley 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 | #109 of 149 in CT | #116 of 282 in MA | #159 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Easthampton | Windsor Locks School District | Hadley | Northampton · Northampton-Smith Vocational Agricultural |
| High school in town | Easthampton High | Windsor Locks High School | Hopkins Academy | Northampton High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8 |
8.9 |
7.3Lowest |
14.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.