Haverhill, MA vs Northampton, MA

Northampton is moderately more affordable than Haverhill, with a 10.4% lower cost of living index. Haverhill scores 123 compared to 111 for Northampton, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Haverhill can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Haverhill is $1,620/month compared to $1,404/month in Northampton — a 15% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Northampton is more affordable at $398,000 median vs $426,900.

Median household income in Haverhill is $87,675 compared to $78,467 in Northampton (+11.7%). While Haverhill is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Haverhill spend roughly 22.2% of their income on rent, more than the 21.5% in Northampton.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (50.1°F vs 49.4°F). Northampton receives more rainfall at 45.2" per year compared to 40.9" in Haverhill.