Northampton, MA

Yes — Northampton is about 26% more expensive than the national average, with an overall Cost Index of 126. Housing is the biggest factor: the typical home here is valued around $474,863, and monthly rents average roughly $1,404. Day-to-day costs like groceries and utilities tend to run closer to the national norm.

Start with housing. Typical monthly rent is $1,404, while local median household income is $78,467. That implies a rent-burden proxy of about 21% before utilities and other costs. For a specific job offer, filing status, or take-home pay scenario, use salary.city.

Massachusetts has a progressive state income tax with a top rate of 9%. The effective property tax rate is 1.15%. On a home worth $474,863, that translates to roughly $5,461 per year in property taxes. Sales tax (state + local) averages around 6.25% on everyday purchases.

The typical monthly rent in Northampton is around $1,404. That's close to the $1,348 national median. For comparison, the median home value here is $474,863, so buyers should also factor in mortgage payments, property taxes, and insurance.

The median home in Northampton is valued at $474,863. With 20% down and a 6.5% mortgage rate, you'd be looking at roughly $2,401/month for principal and interest alone — before property taxes and insurance. About 58% of residents here own their homes.

Grocery prices in Northampton are about average compared to the rest of the US (index: 97, where 100 is the national average). Utility bills (electricity, gas, water) are on the high side (index: 155). Overall, these everyday costs shouldn't cause major surprises if you're moving from another similarly-sized US city.

Northampton is a small town with a population of about 28,640. The median age of residents is 41.7, which is close to the national median. The local poverty rate is 12.5%, near the national average of 12.4%.