Compare towns
North Adams vs Easthampton vs Adams
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
North Adams has the shortest commute (17 min average).
Easthampton has the most people working from home (19%).
Adams has the most homeowners (62.1%).
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 | North Adams | Easthampton | Adams |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 12,606 |
16,086Highest |
8,074Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
— | -3.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.1±3.5Lowest 10% above MA |
46±2.6 15% above MA |
47.3±3.3Highest 18% above MA |
| Adams and Easthampton 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% |
15.7%±3.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 21.6%±2.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
23.9%±3 MA: 17.9% |
25.2%±3.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Adams and Easthampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.4% MA: 47.3% |
38%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9.8%±2Highest MA: 7.9% |
6.1%±1.9 MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±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 |
$58,929±$6k 43% below MA |
| Easthampton and Adams are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $195,900±$14kLowest 65% below MA |
$371,500±$15kHighest 34% below MA |
$209,900±$15k 63% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $793±$113Lowest 55% below MA |
$1,292±$70Highest 27% below MA |
$963±$74 45% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,078Lowest 49% below MA |
$4,932Highest 18% below MA |
$3,638 39% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.7%±11Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.5%±10.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
62.1%±10.3 MA: 51.8% |
| North Adams and Adams 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% |
13.2% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
58.4% MA: 62.5% |
62.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1966Highest 2 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 40% below MA |
22 min 23% below MA |
24 minHighest 19% below MA |
| Work from home | 9.2%±3.5 MA: 18.6% |
19%±3.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
8.3%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #268 of 282 in MA | #92 of 282 in MA | #230 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Adams · Northern Berkshire Regional Vocational Technical | Easthampton | Hoosac Valley Regional |
| High school in town | Charles McCann Vocational Technical | Easthampton High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.6Highest |
9.8Lowest |
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| 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.