What are the schools like in Northampton, MA?

Northampton is served primarily by Northampton. The district operates 4 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 11.2:1.

What is the median household income in Northampton?

The median household income in Northampton, MA is $80,981 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 5.6%.

What is the weather like in Northampton, MA?

Northampton has an average high temperature of 34.0°F in January and 83.1°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 52.8 inches and annual snowfall averages 36.5 inches.

Northampton, MA Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Northampton, MA affordable or expensive?

Northampton's cost of living index is 98, where 100 represents the national average. This means Northampton is 2% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $387,500 and the median rent is $1,355 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Northampton, MA?

Northampton has a violent crime rate of 445.1 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 1272.1 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Northampton, MA a Good Place to Live?

Northampton is a small city of 28,245 in Massachusetts, with a median household income of $80,981 and a 5.6% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 98 (US average = 100), which is 2% below the national average.

Strengths: Northampton stands out for lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (A+), a well-educated population, short average commutes.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Northampton is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Northampton city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 98.4

Northampton's overall cost of living index is 98.4, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Northampton costs roughly 2% less than the average American city.

Metric	Northampton, MA	National Avg
Median Home Value	$387,500	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$1,355	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	58.4%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$80,981	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Safer than Average

Northampton's violent crime rate is 445.1 per 100,000 residents — 17% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

445.1 /100k

Property Crime

1272.1 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Northampton is served primarily by Northampton. The student-to-teacher ratio is 11.2:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Northampton, MA	National Avg
School District	Northampton	—
Elementary Schools	4	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	11.2:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	62.9%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	93.9%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Northampton sees average highs of 34.0°F in January and 83.1°F in July, with 52.8 inches of annual precipitation and 36.5 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Northampton, MA
Average High — January	34.0°F
Average High — July	83.1°F
Annual Precipitation	52.8"
Annual Snowfall	36.5"

Demographics

Metric	Northampton, MA	National Avg
Population	28,245	—
Median Age	42.5	38.9
Unemployment Rate	5.6%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	21.3 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	85.4%	59.3%
Black or African American	2.1%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	5.3%	18.9%
Asian	3.8%	6.3%
Under 18	15.3%	22.2%
65 and over	20.7%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Easthampton Town, MA 4 mi Hatfield, MA 5 mi Holyoke, MA 8 mi Granby, MA 9 mi Amherst Town, MA 9 mi

ZIP Codes in Northampton

Northampton, MA is covered by 4 ZIP codes:

01062 01060 01053 01063

Northampton vs Other Cities

Northampton, MA vs Easthampton Town, MA Northampton, MA vs Hatfield, MA Northampton, MA vs Holyoke, MA Northampton, MA vs Granby, MA Northampton, MA vs Amherst Town, MA

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Northampton, MA affordable or expensive?

Northampton's cost of living index is 98, where 100 is the national average. That makes Northampton roughly 2% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $387,500 and median rent is $1,355/month.

What is the crime rate in Northampton, MA?

Northampton's violent crime rate is 445.1 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1272.1 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Northampton?

Public schools in Northampton are operated by Northampton. The district has 4 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 11.2:1. 62.9% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Northampton, MA a good place to live?

Northampton, MA has a population of 28,245, a median household income of $80,981, and an unemployment rate of 5.6%. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Northampton?

Northampton averages 34.0°F in January and 83.1°F in July. Annual rainfall is 52.8 inches with about 36.5 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Northampton?

Northampton, MA is covered by 4 ZIP codes: 01062, 01060, 01053, 01063.

What is the population of Northampton?

The population of Northampton, Massachusetts is 28,245 with a median age of 42.5. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Northampton?

Key numbers for living in Northampton: cost of living index 98 (100 = US average), median home $387,500, median household income $80,981, crime index 95 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated A+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Northampton side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.