What stands out worked out from the figures below

Montague has the most affordable homes ($282k median).

Easthampton has the most expensive homes ($372k 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.

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

Measure	Montague	Easthampton
People
Population	8,482Lowest	16,086Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.7% MA: +7.4%	—
Median age	44.3±3.1Lowest 11% above MA	46±2.6Highest 15% 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	19%±2.8Highest MA: 19.4%	15.5%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Montague and Easthampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	23.5%±3.2Lowest MA: 17.9%	23.9%±3Highest 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+	37.5%Lowest MA: 47.3%	38%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.7%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9%	6.1%±1.9Highest MA: 7.9%
	Easthampton and Montague are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$70,510±$12kLowest 32% below MA	$71,673±$7kHighest 31% below MA
	Easthampton and Montague are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$282,100±$17kLowest 50% below MA	$371,500±$15kHighest 34% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,207±$115Lowest 31% below MA	$1,292±$70Highest 27% below MA
	Easthampton and Montague are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,922Lowest 35% below MA	$4,932Highest 18% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	64.6%±8.6Highest MA: 51.8%	45.5%±10.7Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Montague and Easthampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	11.5%Highest MA: 10%	8%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	62.7%Highest MA: 62.5%	58.4%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1951Lowest 13 yrs older than MA	1966Highest 2 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	21 minLowest 28% below MA	22 minHighest 23% below MA
Work from home	14.9%±4.2Lowest MA: 18.6%	19%±3.2Highest 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	#265 of 282 in MA	#92 of 282 in MA
School district	Franklin County Regional Vocational Technical · Gill-Montague	Easthampton
High school in town	Franklin County Technical	Easthampton High
Students per teacherat that high school	11.7Highest	9.8Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.