What is the cost of living in Northampton, MA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Northampton has an overall cost of living index of 130, which is 1.3x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to Massachusetts, Northampton has a cost of living index that's 1.0x lower than Massachusetts's index of 130.
The standard of living in Northampton ranks as #37 most affordable out of the 113 places we measured in Massachusetts. By definition, that implies Northampton ranks as the #76 most expensive place in the Bay State.
For more reading on life in Northampton, check out:
Northampton Cost Of Living Vs. Massachusetts
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Northampton. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Northampton is 107.
The Groceries index in Northampton is 112.
The Health index in Northampton is 164.
The Housing index in Northampton is 116.
The Transportation index in Northampton is 115.
The Utilities index in Northampton is 109.
| Living Expense | Northampton | Massachusetts | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 130 | 130 | 100 |
| Services | 107 | 110 | 100 |
| Groceries | 112 | 115 | 100 |
| Health | 164 | 168 | 100 |
| Housing | 116 | 117 | 100 |
| Transportation | 115 | 115 | 100 |
| Utilities | 109 | 114 | 100 |
Northampton Cost Of Living Compared To Massachusetts Averages
Index where 100 = national average. Source: cost-of-living index 2026.
For more reading on cost of living around Massachusetts, check out:
- Most Expensive Cities In Massachusetts
- Most Affordable Cities In Massachusetts
- Average Rent In Massachusetts
Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Northampton, MA Housing Cost Breakdown
Housing swings affordability the most between places in Massachusetts, so we broke down housing costs into more detail. Home and income data comes from the most recent US Census ACS 2020-2024. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in Northampton is $486,075.
The Median Rent in Northampton is $1,439.
The Median Income in Northampton is $80,288.
The Home Value To Income in Northampton is 6.1x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Northampton is 0.22x.
| Statistic | Northampton | Massachusetts | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $486,075 | $656,690 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,439 | $1,762 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $80,288 | $103,960 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 6.1x | 6.3x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.22x | 0.2x | 0.21x |
Northampton, MA Costs By Category
Detailed Northampton Services costs vs. Massachusetts
| Item | Northampton | Massachusetts |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.42 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $12.85 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $18.33 | $18 |
| Haircut | $33.78 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $58.55 | $45.56 |
Detailed Northampton Groceries costs vs. Massachusetts
| Item | Northampton | Massachusetts |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $6.23 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.46 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.73 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $4.96 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $10.79 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $10.49 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.65 | $3.7 |
Detailed Northampton Health costs vs. Massachusetts
| Item | Northampton | Massachusetts |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $166.22 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $182.5 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $127.0 | $113.29 |
Detailed Northampton Transportation costs vs. Massachusetts
| Item | Northampton | Massachusetts |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.34 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $71.63 | $59.92 |
Detailed Northampton Utilities costs vs. Massachusetts
| Item | Northampton | Massachusetts |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $302.09 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $185.16 | $192.25 |
Northampton SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Northampton
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Northampton. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Springfield, MA has a cost of living index of 111, 0.9x Northampton.
Chicopee, MA has a cost of living index of 109, 0.8x Northampton.
Westfield, MA has a cost of living index of 115, 0.9x Northampton.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Northampton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Springfield, MA | 154,749 | 111 | 0.9x |
| Chicopee, MA | 55,295 | 109 | 0.8x |
| Westfield, MA | 40,378 | 115 | 0.9x |
| Holyoke, MA | 37,813 | 112 | 0.9x |
| West Springfield, VA | 22,532 | 150 | 1.2x |
