What stands out worked out from the figures below

Great Barrington has the oldest population (median age 49.7).

Northampton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.6%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Great Barrington	Northampton
People
Population	7,202Lowest	30,962Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+3.6%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	49.7±4.2Highest 24% above MA	41.3±2.2Lowest 3% above MA
Kids under 18	14.9%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4%	16%±1.8Highest MA: 19.4%
	Northampton and Great Barrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	28.7%±4.7Highest MA: 17.9%	20.4%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	49.8%Lowest MA: 47.3%	62.7%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	10.8%±2.4Lowest MA: 7.9%	14%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9%
	Northampton and Great Barrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$84,132±$11kHighest 19% below MA	$80,288±$6kLowest 23% below MA
	Great Barrington and Northampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$494,300±$61kHighest 12% below MA	$429,700±$17kLowest 24% below MA
	Great Barrington and Northampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,314±$239Lowest 25% below MA	$1,439±$75Highest 18% below MA
	Northampton and Great Barrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,935Highest about the MA average	$5,680Lowest 5% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	60.9%±15.2Highest MA: 51.8%	57.6%±6.7Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Great Barrington and Northampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.2%Lowest MA: 10%	13.4%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	68.6%Highest MA: 62.5%	57.3%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1958Highest 6 yrs older than MA	1955Lowest 9 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	22 minHighest 25% below MA	21 minLowest 26% below MA
Work from home	23.6%±6.8Lowest MA: 18.6%	24.1%±3.4Highest MA: 18.6%
	Northampton and Great Barrington 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	#139 of 282 in MA	#159 of 282 in MA
School district	Berkshire Hills	Northampton · Northampton-Smith Vocational Agricultural
High school in town	Monument Mt Regional High	Northampton High
Students per teacherat that high school	9.2Lowest	14.7Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.