The Town FilesNorthampton, Massachusetts
City in Hampshire County · population 29,571 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $429,700
- Household income
- $80,288
- Jan low / Jul high
- 14° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 37 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 11
- Median age
- 41.3
Northampton is a city of 29,571 people in Hampshire County, Massachusetts. The median home is worth $429,700, below the typical Massachusetts town ($510,150). It ranks hipper than 97% of Massachusetts towns, better for cycling than 95% of Massachusetts towns, better for young professionals than 91% of Massachusetts towns.
How Northampton ranks
Percentile among Massachusetts towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Massachusetts towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Northampton is worth $429,700, below the typical Massachusetts town ($510,150). Homes cost about 5.4 times the median household income of $80,288, which is more affordable than 29% of Massachusetts towns. Median rent is $1,439 a month. 57.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Northampton | Typical Massachusetts town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $429,700 | $510,150 |
| Median rent | $1,439 | $1,561 |
| Median household income | $80,288 | $108,622 |
| Home value ÷ income | 5.4× | 4.5× |
| Homeownership | 57.3% | 80.7% |
| Median year built | 1955 | 1968 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.3% | — |
Who lives in Northampton
| People | Northampton | Typical Massachusetts town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.3 | 44.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 20.4% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 16.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 62.7% | 45.7% |
| Below the poverty line | 13.4% | 6.3% |
| Veterans | 3.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 7.9% | — |
| Work from home | 24.1% | 17.7% |
| Average commute | 21.4 min | 30.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 92.4% | 93.9% |
Weather in Northampton
July highs average 83.1°F and January lows 13.8°F. About 46.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 36.5 inches of snow (typical Massachusetts town: 49.5 in). Expect about 12 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 153 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Northampton since 1950, compared with 8 for the typical Massachusetts town. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on September 13, 1971 about 0.3 miles from the town center. The most recent was on February 25, 2017.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 32 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on October 3, 1970.
Severe weather in Hampshire County since 1996
Hampshire County has been included in 23 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 15, 2023 | Hurricane | EM-3599: Hurricane Lee |
| March 27, 2020 | Biological | DR-4496: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3438: Covid-19 |
| April 19, 2013 | Severe Storm | DR-4110: Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, And Flooding |
| October 28, 2012 | Hurricane | EM-3350: Hurricane Sandy |
Jobs and pay in Hampshire County
Hampshire County had 65,786 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $62,006 a year. Unemployment was 2.9% in 2023; in Northampton itself the ACS puts it at 5.5%.
Public schools in Northampton
7 public schools with 3,064 students, about 10.2 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northampton High | 9-12 | 907 | 14.2 |
| Smith Vocational and Agricultural High | 9-12 | 569 | 8.9 |
| John F Kennedy Middle School | 6-8 | 542 | 9.0 |
| Leeds | PK-5 | 278 | 9.0 |
| Jackson Street | K-5 | 276 | 10.2 |
| Bridge Street | PK-5 | 259 | 9.3 |
| R. K. Finn Ryan Road | K-5 | 233 | 9.0 |
Towns near Northampton
- Hatfield, MA5.2 mi · 3,352 people · home $440,800
- Hadley, MA5.8 mi · 5,325 people · home $511,000
- Williamsburg, MA6.0 mi · 2,504 people · home $403,100
- South Hadley, MA6.9 mi · 18,150 people · home $357,900
- Southampton, MA7.7 mi · 6,224 people · home $452,300
- Holyoke, MA8.1 mi · 38,238 people · home $274,100
- Amherst Town, MA8.9 mi · 39,263 people · home $484,900
- Granby, MA10.6 mi · 6,110 people · home $352,600
Northampton questions
Is Northampton, Massachusetts a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Northampton scores better for retirees than 59% of Massachusetts towns and quieter than 16%. 20.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 41.3).
How much does a house cost in Northampton?
The median owner-occupied home in Northampton is valued at $429,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $80,288, so homes cost about 5.4 times income. Median rent is $1,439 a month.
What is the weather like in Northampton?
July highs average 83.1°F and January lows 13.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 46.6 inches of precipitation a year and 36.5 inches of snow.
Does Northampton get tornadoes?
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Northampton since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on September 13, 1971. The typical Massachusetts town has had 8.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)