Easthampton vs Northampton
You are paying about $250k more for a 4BR in Northampton, and in exchange you get the stronger schools. That is the trade in plain terms: $250k for 19 MCAS percentile points inside the same tier.
On tax, look past the rate: Easthampton works out roughly $2,600 a year cheaper on its own median 4BR — despite having the higher rate of the two, because the bill follows the house.
Choose Easthampton if you want the lower price.
All Easthampton numbers →Choose Northampton if you want the stronger schools of the two, or the commute matters most.
All Northampton numbers →Side by side
The better of the two is highlighted on each row. Where a row is not highlighted, the two are close enough that calling a winner would be false precision.
| Easthampton | Northampton | |
|---|---|---|
| School tier | solid schoolsT3 | solid schoolsT3 |
| MCAS percentile | 29th | 48th |
| Niche district rank | — | 58th of 236 |
| 4BR house | $450kT1 | $700kT2 |
| 2BR condo | $260k | $405k |
| Commute to Boston | 122 minT4 | 121 minT4 |
| MBTA rail | No MBTA rail | No MBTA rail |
| Tax rate | $15.50T4 | $13.67T3 |
| Est. tax bill on that 4BR | ≈$7,000 | ≈$9,600 |
| 3BR rent | $2,347/mo | $2,720/mo |
Prices are estimates calibrated to the Zillow Home Value Index and Redfin; tax rates are FY2026 residential rates and the bill applies that rate to the town’s own median 4BR estimate; commutes take the rail leg from the MBTA timetable and still model the drive; rents are HUD FY2026 Small Area Fair Market Rents. School tiers are editorial and shown next to the state’s own MCAS figures. Data last reviewed — see the methodology. This comparison never uses demographics as an input.
