Northampton receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
Easton
Northampton
Opportunity: Northampton is the more favorable of the two.
Opportunity
65 · Top 32%
vs76 · Top 11%
Growth: Easton is the more favorable of the two.
Growth
36 · Bottom 26%
vs33 · Bottom 21%
Climate
64 · Bottom 33%
vs64 · Bottom 33%
Physical resilience: Easton is the more favorable of the two.
Physical resilience
65 · Top 43%
vs65 · Top 43%
Housing affordability: Northampton is the more favorable of the two.
Housing affordability
89 · Top 35%
vs100 · Top 8%
Schools: Northampton is the more favorable of the two.
Schools
42 · Bottom 38%
vs53 · Top 47%
Access: Easton is the more favorable of the two.
Access
71 · Bottom 13%
vs69 · Bottom 11%
Economic stability: Northampton is the more favorable of the two.
Economic stability
48 · Bottom 28%
vs60 · Top 50%
Measured values
| Metric | Easton | Northampton | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 29,739 | 10,400 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $69,348 | $90,762 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $29,811 | $43,232 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 6,976/sq mi | 4,209/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $196,300 | $235,200 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,325 | $1,174 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 44.5% | 70.4% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 4.7% | 4.0% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | 3.3% | 3.3% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 28.2% | 26.2% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 16.3% | 6.7% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 1 | 2 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 0.0 | 0.2 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | -50.0% | -50.0% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 86°F | 86°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 22°F | 22°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 47.4" | 47.4" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 55 mi | 58 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 28.5 min | 29.7 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 31.6 | 43.0 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 9 | 4 | 2024-25 school year |
| Students per teacher | 12.74 | 14.24 | 2024-25 school year |
| Math proficiency | 21.9% | 27.3% | 2019-20 school year |
| Reading proficiency | 42.4% | 51.3% | 2019-20 school year |
| Free or reduced-price lunch eligibility | 71.7% | 52.1% | 2024-25 school 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.
Your best match
Weight what matters to you. Your preferences stay in this browser and never change either Area Score.
Easton
60
Your Score
61
Area Score
Northampton
65
Your Score
66
Area Score
Select your priorities to see which of the two fits them better.
Full profiles: Easton, PA · Northampton, PA · How this is calculated: methodology