Compare towns
Northampton vs Ogunquit vs Easthampton vs Watertown
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Northampton has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Ogunquit has the most homeowners (94.3%).
Easthampton has the most affordable homes ($372k median).
Watertown has the most renters (52.3% 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 | Northampton | Ogunquit | Easthampton | Watertown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 30,962 |
1,379Lowest |
16,086 |
35,543Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 41.3±2.2 6% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
46±2.6 18% above U.S. |
39.4±1.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 16%±1.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.5%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
14.3%±1.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Northampton and Easthampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.4%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.9%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 62.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
38%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
66.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 14%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
6%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $80,288±$6k about the U.S. average |
$114,259±$56k 42% above U.S. |
$71,673±$7kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$126,265±$6kHighest 56% above U.S. |
| Watertown and Ogunquit are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $429,700±$17k 29% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$371,500±$15kLowest 12% above U.S. |
$784,600±$31k 136% above U.S. |
| Ogunquit and Watertown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,439±$75 about the U.S. average |
— | $1,292±$70Lowest 9% below U.S. |
$2,502±$107Highest 77% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,680 82% above U.S. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$4,932 58% above U.S. |
$6,799Highest 118% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.6%±6.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.5%±10.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.7%±5.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Northampton and Easthampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 13.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 57.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
58.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
47.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1966 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1947Lowest 33 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 19% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
22 min 16% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 24.1%±3.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.1%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ogunquit and Watertown 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 | — | #92 of 282 in MA | #171 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Northampton · Northampton-Smith Vocational Agricultural | — | Easthampton | Watertown |
| High school in town | Northampton High | — | Easthampton High | Watertown High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7Highest |
— | 9.8Lowest |
11.1 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.