Compare towns
Northampton vs Sutton vs Easthampton vs Hadley
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 youngest population (median age 41.3).
Sutton has the highest household income ($147k).
Easthampton has the most affordable homes ($372k median).
Hadley has the shortest commute (20 min average).
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 | Sutton | Easthampton | Hadley |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 30,962Highest |
9,452 |
16,086 |
5,306Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6% MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
— | +1.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±2.2Lowest 3% above MA |
44.3±2.5 11% above MA |
46±2.6Highest 15% above MA |
45.8±7.1 15% above MA |
| Easthampton and Hadley 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% |
19.6%±3.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.5%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
16.2%±4.6 MA: 19.4% |
| Sutton and Hadley 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% |
18.8%±3.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
23.9%±3 MA: 17.9% |
24.2%±4.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Hadley and Easthampton 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% |
52.8% MA: 47.3% |
38%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
61.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 14%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.1%±1.9 MA: 7.9% |
10.9%±5.7 MA: 7.9% |
| Northampton and Hadley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $80,288±$6k 23% below MA |
$147,125±$25kHighest 42% above MA |
$71,673±$7kLowest 31% below MA |
$119,259±$12k 15% above MA |
| Sutton and Hadley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $429,700±$17k 24% below MA |
$523,100±$47kHighest 7% below MA |
$371,500±$15kLowest 34% below MA |
$511,000±$43k 9% below MA |
| Sutton and Hadley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,439±$75Highest 18% below MA |
$1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA |
$1,292±$70 27% below MA |
$1,402±$132 20% below MA |
| Northampton and Hadley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,680 5% below MA |
$6,763Highest 13% above MA |
$4,932Lowest 18% below MA |
$5,271 12% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.6%±6.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
45.5%±10.7 MA: 51.8% |
38.6%±18.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Northampton and Sutton 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% |
5.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
8% MA: 10% |
6.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 57.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
58.4% MA: 62.5% |
73.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 9 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 26% below MA |
30 minHighest about the MA average |
22 min 23% below MA |
20 minLowest 33% below MA |
| Work from home | 24.1%±3.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
19%±3.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20.1%±7.4 MA: 18.6% |
| Northampton and Sutton 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 | #105 of 282 in MA | #92 of 282 in MA | #116 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Northampton · Northampton-Smith Vocational Agricultural | Sutton | Easthampton | Hadley |
| High school in town | Northampton High | Sutton High School | Easthampton High | Hopkins Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7Highest |
12.6 |
9.8 |
7.3Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.