Compare towns
Northampton vs Plainfield vs Easthampton
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 most people working from home (24.1%).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Easthampton has the oldest population (median age 46).
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 | Plainfield | Easthampton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 30,962Highest |
15,141Lowest |
16,086 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 41.3±2.2 6% above U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
46±2.6Highest 18% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.5%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.9%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
38% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 14%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $80,288±$6kHighest about the U.S. average |
$76,993±$8k 5% below U.S. |
$71,673±$7kLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Northampton and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $429,700±$17kHighest 29% above U.S. |
$272,100±$16kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$371,500±$15k 12% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,439±$75Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,204±$70Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,292±$70 9% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,680Highest 82% above U.S. |
$4,209Lowest 35% above U.S. |
$4,932 58% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.6%±6.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.5%±10.7 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% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 57.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
58.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1966 14 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 19% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
22 min 16% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 24.1%±3.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Northampton and Easthampton 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 | #131 of 149 in CT | #92 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Northampton · Northampton-Smith Vocational Agricultural | Plainfield School District | Easthampton |
| High school in town | Northampton High | Plainfield High School | Easthampton High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7Highest |
10.3 |
9.8Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.