Northampton, PA vs Shrewsbury, PA

Northampton, PA and Shrewsbury, PA have a very similar cost of living, with only a 3.5% difference in their overall index. Northampton scores 88 while Shrewsbury scores 91 on the cost of living index, where 100 represents the national average. The day-to-day expenses for residents in both cities are comparable, though differences emerge when looking at specific categories.

On the housing front, median rent in Northampton is $1,156/month compared to $1,091/month in Shrewsbury — a 6% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Shrewsbury has cheaper rent, Northampton actually has lower median home values ($225,400 vs $296,300).

Median household income in Northampton is $82,719 compared to $95,962 in Shrewsbury (-13.8%). While Shrewsbury is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Northampton spend roughly 16.8% of their income on rent, more than the 13.6% in Shrewsbury.