Northampton 80 Exceptional
Northampton Livability #226 ranked city in Pennsylvania#1,961 ranked city in the USARanks better than 93% of areas
Is This the Right Place for You? Local Insights Report
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Pros and Cons of Living in Northampton

PROS
  • Cost Of Living Cost Of Living

    Taking into account the cost of goods and services like housing, groceries, transportation and utilities, the overall cost of living in this area is well below average.

  • Crime Crime

    Crime per 100,000 people is significantly lower than the national average, making it a safe place to live. These crime statistics include both violent and property crimes.

  • Employment Employment

    Higher than average median household income, income per capita and lower unemployment rates are seen in this area. The result is a high score in the employment category.

  • Housing Housing

    High scores in the housing category are a distinguishing feature of this area, possibly driven by a favorable home affordability ratio, higher home values and appreciation rates.

  • Health & Safety Health & Safety

    Good air quality as well as nearby health facilities like hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, fire and police stations all contribute to a higher than average health and safety score.

CONS
  • Amenities Amenities

    The majority of amenities are not ideally located within walking distance. To access these amenities, residents may be required to rely on a vehicle or public transit.

  • Commute Commute

    A low commute score could be due to longer-than-average work commutes and the limited availability of public transportation in this area.

What's it like Living in Northampton?

Northampton is a moderately-sized city located in the state of Pennsylvania. The city has a population of 10,228 people. In Northampton, there are 4,141 people per square mile, which is well above the national population density average. The majority of Northampton residents report their race to be White; this is followed by Black and Asian. The average American spends about 26 minutes on their one way commute to work each day. Lower travel times can increase overall happiness and allow for more time to be spent with family and friends. While living in Northampton, your commute times will be about average, with a one way commute time of 25 minutes.

Are you trying to decide if living in Northampton is the right fit for your lifestyle? To ensure a great experience before moving to any new city in Pennsylvania, you will probably want to make sure that you check all of the most important boxes. Several key factors deserve attention. For one, safety is paramount, ensuring that your new area is low in crime is key. Proximity to workplaces or schools minimizes commute times and fosters convenience. Access to essential amenities like parks, grocery stores, food, fitness, shops and healthcare facilities enhances daily life. Efficient public transportation options provide mobility and connectivity. The sense of community creates a welcoming and supportive environment. Lastly, the overall atmosphere, encompassing the vibe, aesthetics, and lifestyle offerings, contributes to a fulfilling living experience. Considering these elements helps identify the ideal neighborhood for your needs and preferences. Using the livability score which includes data from categories like amenities, cost of living, health & safety, education, employment, you can easily compare the best places to live in Northampton and also determine if there are any nearby cities that might be a better match for your lifestyle. You can also compare Northampton to Pennsylvania and the national average.

The livability score in Northampton is 74 out of 100 and the city is ranked in the 86th percentile of all cities across America. If we dig down a little deeper into each category within the livability score, we see that Northampton has higher than average scores for the following: crime (B), cost of living (B+), education (B), employment (A-) and housing (A+). There are some categories that Northampton ranks poorly for, including: amenities (F). It might be worth taking a closer look to determine why.

Low rates of violent crime, encompassing offenses such as murder, rape, robbery and assault, contribute significantly to a safer living environment. This reduction in crime minimizes the chances of personal harm, property theft, or violent incidents. Furthermore, low crime rates can have a positive impact on property values and the overall desirability of an area. There were 29 crimes per 100,000 residents, which signifies that Northampton boasts an impressively low violent crime rate that falls well below the national average.

Unemployment rates can vary significantly among cities, impacting job prospects, wage levels and the overall economic health of an area. In Northampton, the unemployment rate stands at 2.4%, suggesting increased job opportunities and a heightened demand for workers. This scenario can lead to higher wages, as the demand for employees outpaces job availability. Importantly, a low unemployment rate often signifies a robust and flourishing local economy.

A robust real estate market serves as a crucial economic indicator, reflecting the local area's strength, stability and the confidence of its residents. Northampton excels in the housing sector, scoring high marks based on factors such as median home and rental prices, appreciation rates and home affordability. These calculations suggest that the apartment rental and real estate market in the region is exceptionally healthy, highlighting the area's economic vitality and attractiveness to potential homebuyers and renters.

Assuming that Northampton meets all of your requirements like low crime rates, good schools and great local amenities, the next most important item to examine is the affordability of real estate in Northampton. Everything else becomes a lot less important if it turns out that home prices in Northampton are simply unattainable. Median real estate prices in Northampton come in at $302,005, which is 1.9% higher than the Pennsylvania average. The home price to income ratio compares the median home prices to the median household income. In Northampton, the home price to income ratio is 2.8, which is 24.3% lower than the Pennsylvania average.

Best Places to Live in and Around Northampton

See all the best places to live around Northampton

How Do You Rate The Livability In Northampton?

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Compare Northampton, PA Livability

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      Northampton transportation information

      Statistic Northampton Pennsylvania National
      Average one way commute25min26min26min
      Workers who drive to work86.7%76.5%76.4%
      Workers who carpool5.5%8.5%9.3%
      Workers who take public transit0.0%5.6%5.1%
      Workers who bicycle0.0%0.5%0.6%
      Workers who walk1.6%3.8%2.8%
      Working from home5.4%4.2%4.6%
      Source: The Northampton, PA data and statistics displayed above are derived from the United States Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) and include 2026 modeled data developed using proprietary methodologies.