What stands out worked out from the figures below

North Adams has the most affordable homes ($196k median).

Easthampton has the most people working from home (19%).

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	North Adams	Easthampton
People
Population	12,606Lowest	16,086Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-5.4% MA: +7.4%	—
Median age	44.1±3.5Lowest 10% above MA	46±2.6Highest 15% above MA
	Easthampton and North Adams are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	15.7%±2.9Highest MA: 19.4%	15.5%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4%
	North Adams and Easthampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21.6%±2.6Lowest MA: 17.9%	23.9%±3Highest MA: 17.9%
	Easthampton and North Adams are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	28.4%Lowest MA: 47.3%	38%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	9.8%±2Highest MA: 7.9%	6.1%±1.9Lowest MA: 7.9%
	North Adams and Easthampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$47,500±$7kLowest 54% below MA	$71,673±$7kHighest 31% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$195,900±$14kLowest 65% below MA	$371,500±$15kHighest 34% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$793±$113Lowest 55% below MA	$1,292±$70Highest 27% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,078Lowest 49% below MA	$4,932Highest 18% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	63.7%±11Highest MA: 51.8%	45.5%±10.7Lowest MA: 51.8%
	North Adams and Easthampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	18.6%Highest MA: 10%	8%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	51%Lowest MA: 62.5%	58.4%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA	1966Highest 2 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	17 minLowest 40% below MA	22 minHighest 23% below MA
Work from home	9.2%±3.5Lowest MA: 18.6%	19%±3.2Highest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#268 of 282 in MA	#92 of 282 in MA
School district	North Adams · Northern Berkshire Regional Vocational Technical	Easthampton
High school in town	Charles McCann Vocational Technical	Easthampton High
Students per teacherat that high school	10.6Highest	9.8Lowest
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.