Living in Northampton, MA
Small town in Massachusetts
Northampton is a small town in Massachusetts, home to about 29,000 people, with 582,000 living within 31 mi. Day to day, much of daily life is walkable. Life moves at a relaxed pace, and homes are mostly apartments.
Is Northampton a good place to live? Pros and cons
👍 Pros
- Mild summers: highs around 81°F
- Low natural disaster risk: 7 federally declared disasters since 2000
- Easy flying: BDL is 27 mi away
- Highly educated: 61% of adults have a bachelor's degree or higher, and 1 research university is within 31 mi
👎 Cons
- Higher taxes: about $3,502 state income tax per resident, 1.38% property tax
- Cloudier than most places
- Fewer family amenities than most places
- Few dog parks: 2 within 9 mi
Whether it's a good place for you depends on what you value. Take the quiz to see how Northampton ranks against your own priorities.
Key facts
Living in Northampton: common questions
What is the cost of living in Northampton?
A typical 3-bedroom home is worth about $507k, and a 3-bedroom rents for about $2,500 a month including utilities. Overall living costs are close to the US average (index 100, where the US is 100).
What are taxes like in Northampton?
Massachusetts collects about $3,502 in state income tax per resident, and homeowners here pay about 1.38% of their home's value in property tax each year.
Is Northampton safe?
Violent crime is close to the national rate (1.1× in FBI 2019 data).
What is the weather like in Northampton?
Northampton has cold winters: winter days average around 37°F and summer days around 81°F, with roughly 37″ of snow a year.
Does Northampton get natural disasters?
Natural disaster risk is low, mainly from flooding and hurricanes: 7 federally declared disasters have hit the county since 2000, and FEMA expects about 0.23 deaths or injuries per 100,000 residents a year.
What is the nearest major airport to Northampton?
The nearest major airport is BDL, about 27 mi away.
How Northampton scores
Each bar compares Northampton with the other 1143 places in Best Life Fit Me. A dot shows where it sits between two ends, such as major metro and small town; neither end is better. Coloured bars run from poor (red) to excellent (green).
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Is Northampton right for you?
Answer 27 quick questions and see how it ranks against your priorities.