Smart Movers Club

    Moving to Northampton, MA

    Is Northampton a good place to live?

    Watch Northampton

    Northampton ranks #12 of 64 Massachusetts cities with 25,000+ people on the Smart Movers livability score (66/100), which weighs home affordability, unemployment, education and population growth. Population grew 1.4% in the latest Census year.

    Median home value
    $398,000
    +2.7% vs prior year
    Median rent
    $1,404
    per month
    Household income
    $78,467
    median
    Unemployment
    5.3%
    lower is better

    Cost of living in Northampton

    The median home value in Northampton is $398,000 and median rent is $1,404 a month, against a median household income of $78,467. Homes cost about 5.1× a year of income (under 3× is considered affordable).

    Northampton crime rate

    City-level FBI figures vary by agency; across Massachusetts the 2025 rate was 301 violent and 1,036 property crimes per 100,000 people — #42 highest of 50 states. The full report breaks down local trends.

    Moving to Northampton, MA

    Northampton has about 28,640 residents, 5.3% unemployment and 27% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher.

    Compare Northampton with

    Northampton vs BostonNorthampton vs WorcesterNorthampton vs SpringfieldNorthampton vs CambridgeNorthampton vs LowellNorthampton vs BrocktonNorthampton vs QuincyNorthampton vs Lynn

    More: Where to move in Massachusetts · Best counties in Massachusetts

    Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year estimates (2023, compared with 2022); FBI Crime Data Explorer.

    Home listings, local news, migration, schools, resources and the Smart Movers Grade & Verdict.

    See the full Smart Movers Club report