Amherst Town-Northampton and Burlington-South Burlington receive effectively the same standardized Area Score. Which fits you better depends on which dimensions you weight — the differences below are where they actually diverge.
Signals
Measured values
| Metric | Amherst Town-Northampton | Burlington-South Burlington | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 162,028 | 227,846 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $87,001 | $93,043 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $45,568 | $49,764 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 307/sq mi | 182/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $390,300 | $401,000 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,388 | $1,581 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 67.8% | 67.6% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 3.6% | 2.4% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -1.5% | -3.2% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 51.6% | 50.2% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 11.3% | 9.8% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 398 | 1,171 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 2.5 | 5.1 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 22.5% | 54.1% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 85°F | 82°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 16°F | 13°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 45.2" | 37.5" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 13 mi | 21 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 24.8 min | 24.4 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 37.4 | 38.5 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Physical risk tradeoff
Amherst Town-Northampton
Elevated or high exposure: hurricane.
Burlington-South Burlington
Elevated or high exposure: earthquake, heat wave.
Your best match
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Full profiles: Amherst Town-Northampton, MA Metro Area · Burlington-South Burlington, VT Metro Area · How this is calculated: methodology