Northampton, Massachusetts
Among the top 4% of US places for getting around.
AffordabilityAffordability: grade D, better than 11% of US places
WeatherWeather: grade F, better than 9% of US places
Safety & WellbeingSafety & Wellbeing: grade B, better than 68% of US places
Getting AroundGetting Around: grade A+, better than 96% of US places
Lifestyle & ConnectivityLifestyle & Connectivity: grade C, better than 47% of US places
- top 9% for natural disaster risk
- top 9% for walkability
- bottom 12% for estimated total tax burden
Northampton is a mid-size city in Massachusetts with about 28,000 residents. It grades A+ for getting around and F for weather. Standout strengths include natural disaster risk, walkability, and school quality. It rates lower on sunny days and estimated total tax burden.
Official websitenorthamptonma.gov (opens in new tab)
Climate
Warm summers · Cold winters · Wet · Snowy
very cold
cold
cool
comf.
warm
cool
cold
v.cold
60%46%clearovercast
Precipitation 4.7 in4.2 in
humid 96%dry
Livability factors
Affordability
Median Household Income$81k73rd percentile — neutral, not ranked
Cost of Living$56kbetter than 18% of US places
Home Value$388k85th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Monthly Rent$1kbetter than 21% of US places
Monthly Owner Costs$2kbetter than 15% of US places
Property Tax Rate1.37%better than 31% of US places
Income Tax9.00%better than 17% of US places
Sales Tax6.25%better than 81% of US places
Estimated total tax burden17.61%better than 12% of US places
Unemployment5.6%better than 34% of US places
Weather
Winter Temp (Jan)25°F24th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Summer Temp (Jul)73°F31st percentile — neutral, not ranked
Annual Precipitation52.8 in86th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Annual Snowfall36.5 inbetter than 25% of US places
Sunny Days185 daysbetter than 13% of US places
Summer Humidity62°Fbetter than 60% of US places
Comfortable Days78 daysbetter than 40% of US places
Safety & Wellbeing
Natural Disaster Risk28.6better than 91% of US places
Air Quality46 AQIbetter than 53% of US places
School Quality95.0better than 84% of US places
Violent Crime1238/100kbetter than 26% of US places
Property Crime1252/100kbetter than 38% of US places
Community
Population28,24595th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Median Age42.557th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Racial Diversity0.2759th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Male/Female Ratio0.7410th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Political LeaningD+484th percentile — neutral, not ranked
White (%)82.0%45th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Black (%)2.1%66th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Hispanic (%)7.9%68th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Asian (%)3.7%88th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Other / Multiracial (%)4.3%65th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Getting Around
Commute Time21 minbetter than 79% of US places
Walkability11.4/20better than 91% of US places
Airport Distance27 mibetter than 83% of US places
Lifestyle & Connectivity
Broadband Access87.9%better than 56% of US places
Amenities Nearby50.63better than 40% of US places
Park & Nature AccessGoodbetter than 54% of US places
Similar places
Frequently asked questions
- Is Northampton an affordable place to live?
- Northampton is relatively expensive. Its cost-of-living index is $56k, better than 18% of comparable areas.
- What is the median home value in Northampton?
- The median home value in Northampton is $388k, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- What is the median household income in Northampton?
- Median household income in Northampton is $81k, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- How much is rent in Northampton?
- Median gross rent in Northampton is $1k a month, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- Is Northampton safe?
- Northampton is higher-crime than most comparable areas, with a violent crime rate of 1238/100k (better than 26%). Property crime is 1252/100k.
- What is the weather like in Northampton?
- Northampton averages 73°F in July and 25°F in January, with 52.8 in of annual precipitation and about 185 sunny days a year.
- How are the schools in Northampton?
- Public-school quality in Northampton is above average, scoring better than 84% of comparable areas on a composite of graduation rates, spending, and student-teacher ratio.
- How long is the commute in Northampton?
- The average one-way commute in Northampton is 21 min.
Other places in Hampshire County
Places near Northampton
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Data sources
- EPA Air Quality (AQI)
- EPA Smart Location Database
- EPI Family Budget Calculator
- FAA airport enplanements
- FBI Uniform Crime Reports
- FEMA National Risk Index
- MIT Election Data Lab (2020)
- NCES School Finance Survey
- NOAA Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA nClimGrid
- OpenStreetMap
- Tax Foundation + state revenue depts
- U.S. Census ACS (5-Year)
- USGS Protected Areas (PAD-US)