Northampton, MA vs Taunton, MA

Taunton is moderately more affordable than Northampton, with a 5.1% lower cost of living index. Northampton scores 111 compared to 106 for Taunton, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Northampton can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Northampton is $1,404/month compared to $1,269/month in Taunton — a 11% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Taunton is more affordable at $388,200 median vs $398,000.

Median household income in Northampton is $78,467 compared to $79,715 in Taunton (-1.6%). Taunton offers a double advantage: higher earnings combined with a lower cost of living, giving residents significantly more purchasing power. Looking at affordability, residents of Northampton spend roughly 21.5% of their income on rent, more than the 19.1% in Taunton.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (49.4°F vs 50.4°F). Taunton receives more rainfall at 47.6" per year compared to 45.2" in Northampton.