What stands out worked out from the figures below

Webster has the most kids (19.6% under 18).

Easthampton has the most people working from home (19%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Webster	Easthampton
People
Population	17,748Highest	16,086Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6% MA: +7.4%	—
Median age	39.9±2.9Lowest about the MA average	46±2.6Highest 15% above MA
Kids under 18	19.6%±2.9Highest MA: 19.4%	15.5%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Webster and Easthampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.6%±2.5Lowest MA: 17.9%	23.9%±3Highest MA: 17.9%
	Easthampton and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	25.3%Lowest MA: 47.3%	38%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.8%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9%	6.1%±1.9Highest MA: 7.9%
	Easthampton and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$72,895±$6kHighest 30% below MA	$71,673±$7kLowest 31% below MA
	Webster and Easthampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$361,500±$12kLowest 36% below MA	$371,500±$15kHighest 34% below MA
	Easthampton and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,228±$81Lowest 30% below MA	$1,292±$70Highest 27% below MA
	Easthampton and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,999Lowest 33% below MA	$4,932Highest 18% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45.7%±6.7Highest MA: 51.8%	45.5%±10.7Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Webster and Easthampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	12.7%Highest MA: 10%	8%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	59.8%Highest MA: 62.5%	58.4%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA	1966Highest 2 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 5% above MA	22 minLowest 23% below MA
Work from home	8%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6%	19%±3.2Highest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#271 of 282 in MA	#92 of 282 in MA
School district	Webster	Easthampton
High school in town	Bartlett High School	Easthampton High
Students per teacherat that high school	11.6Highest	9.8Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.