Compare towns
Montague vs Needham vs Easthampton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Montague has the most affordable homes ($282k median).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Easthampton has the most renters (41.6% rent).
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 | Montague | Needham | Easthampton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,482Lowest |
32,459Highest |
16,086 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 44.3±3.1 11% above MA |
43.1±1.6Lowest 8% 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%±2.8 MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.5%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 23.5%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest 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% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
38% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
6.1%±1.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Easthampton and Needham 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 |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$71,673±$7k 31% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $282,100±$17kLowest 50% below MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$371,500±$15k 34% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,207±$115Lowest 31% below MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,292±$70 27% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,922Lowest 35% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$4,932 18% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64.6%±8.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
45.5%±10.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Montague and Needham 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% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.7% MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
58.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1951Lowest 13 yrs older than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1966Highest 2 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 28% below MA |
28 minHighest 5% below MA |
22 min 23% below MA |
| Work from home | 14.9%±4.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
19%±3.2 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #265 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #92 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Franklin County Regional Vocational Technical · Gill-Montague | Needham | Easthampton |
| High school in town | Franklin County Technical | Needham High | Easthampton High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.7 |
11.9Highest |
9.8Lowest |
| 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.