Compare towns
Northampton vs Webster vs Watertown
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 shortest commute (21 min average).
Webster has the most kids (19.6% under 18).
Watertown has the most expensive homes ($785k 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.
| Measure | Northampton | Webster | Watertown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 30,962 |
17,748Lowest |
35,543Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 41.3±2.2Highest 3% above MA |
39.9±2.9 about the MA average |
39.4±1.3Lowest about the MA average |
| Northampton and Webster 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%±2.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
14.3%±1.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Webster and Northampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.4%±1.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.6%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
18.3%±1.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Northampton and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 62.7% MA: 47.3% |
25.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
66.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 14%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.8%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $80,288±$6k 23% below MA |
$72,895±$6kLowest 30% below MA |
$126,265±$6kHighest 21% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $429,700±$17k 24% below MA |
$361,500±$12kLowest 36% below MA |
$784,600±$31kHighest 40% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,439±$75 18% below MA |
$1,228±$81Lowest 30% below MA |
$2,502±$107Highest 42% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,680 5% below MA |
$3,999Lowest 33% below MA |
$6,799Highest 13% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.6%±6.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.7%±6.7 MA: 51.8% |
42.7%±5.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Northampton and Webster 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% |
12.7% MA: 10% |
7.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 57.3% MA: 62.5% |
59.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
47.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955 9 yrs older than MA |
1962Highest 2 yrs older than MA |
1947Lowest 17 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 26% below MA |
31 minHighest 5% above MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 24.1%±3.4 MA: 18.6% |
8%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
29.1%±2.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Watertown and Northampton 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 | #271 of 282 in MA | #171 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Northampton · Northampton-Smith Vocational Agricultural | Webster | Watertown |
| High school in town | Northampton High | Bartlett High School | Watertown High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7Highest |
11.6 |
11.1Lowest |
| 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.