Compare towns

Northampton vs Beverly vs Easthampton

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Northampton has the most people working from home (24.1%).
Beverly has the most expensive homes ($650k median).
Easthampton has the most affordable 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.

MeasureNorthamptonBeverlyEasthampton
People
Population
30,962
42,665Highest
16,086Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+3.6%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+8%Highest
MA: +7.4%
—
Median age
41.3±2.2
3% above MA
39±1.8Lowest
about the MA average
46±2.6Highest
15% above MA
Easthampton and Northampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
16%±1.8
MA: 19.4%
18.5%±1.8Highest
MA: 19.4%
15.5%±2.4Lowest
MA: 19.4%
Beverly and Northampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
20.4%±1.7
MA: 17.9%
19.4%±1.7Lowest
MA: 17.9%
23.9%±3Highest
MA: 17.9%
Easthampton and Northampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
62.7%Highest
MA: 47.3%
53.4%
MA: 47.3%
38%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
14%±1.4Highest
MA: 7.9%
11.3%±0.8
MA: 7.9%
6.1%±1.9Lowest
MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$80,288±$6k
23% below MA
$106,044±$7kHighest
about the MA average
$71,673±$7kLowest
31% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$429,700±$17k
24% below MA
$650,300±$13kHighest
16% above MA
$371,500±$15kLowest
34% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,439±$75
18% below MA
$1,771±$106Highest
about the MA average
$1,292±$70Lowest
27% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,680
5% below MA
$6,836Highest
14% above MA
$4,932Lowest
18% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
57.6%±6.7Highest
MA: 51.8%
55.5%±7.2
MA: 51.8%
45.5%±10.7Lowest
MA: 51.8%
Northampton and Beverly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
13.4%Highest
MA: 10%
9.4%
MA: 10%
8%Lowest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
57.3%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
60.1%Highest
MA: 62.5%
58.4%
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1955Lowest
9 yrs older than MA
1956
8 yrs older than MA
1966Highest
2 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
21 minLowest
26% below MA
30 minHighest
3% above MA
22 min
23% below MA
Work from home
24.1%±3.4Highest
MA: 18.6%
22.3%±2.4
MA: 18.6%
19%±3.2Lowest
MA: 18.6%
Northampton and Beverly 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 #159 of 282 in MA #144 of 282 in MA #92 of 282 in MA
School district Northampton · Northampton-Smith Vocational Agricultural Beverly Easthampton
High school in town Northampton High Beverly High Easthampton High
Students per teacherat that high school
14.7Highest
12.2
9.8Lowest
On TownTapestry
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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.