Northampton, MA at a glance
Median household income
$80,288$6,691 per month · U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-YearHow much rent can you afford in Northampton, MA?
HUD’s fair market rent for each size, against what a typical household here earns. Change the income to see yours.
How much is rent in Northampton, MA? By bedroom, 2026
HUD's fiscal 2026 Fair Market Rents for Amherst Town-Northampton, MA MSA, with the income each one takes if rent stays under 30% of it.
| Unit Size | Monthly Rent | Annual Rent | 30% Rule Min. Income | % of Median Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio / Efficiency | $1,382 | $16,584 | $55,280 | 20.7% |
| 1-Bedroom Apartment | $1,580 | $18,960 | $63,200 | 23.6% |
| 2-Bedroom ApartmentBenchmark | $2,004 | $24,048 | $80,160 | 30% |
| 3-Bedroom Home | $2,504 | $30,048 | $100,160 | 37.4% |
| 4-Bedroom Home | $2,702 | $32,424 | $108,080 | 40.4% |
What a typical income covers in Northampton, MA
The 50/30/20 rule applied to the local median of $80,288 a year ($6,691 a month before tax).
What $80,288 leaves after Massachusetts taxes
Federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare and Massachusetts tax on the local median income. Change the salary to see yours.
Rent, jobs and pay in Massachusetts
Living in Northampton, MA: common questions
What is the median household income in Northampton, MA?
According to the latest U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year survey, the median household income in Northampton, MA is $80,288 per year (approximately $6,691 per month).
What is the average rent in Northampton, MA?
The closest official figure is HUD's Fair Market Rent for 2026: $1,382 for a studio, $1,580 for one bedroom, $2,004 for two, $2,504 for three and $2,702 for four, utilities included.
It is not an average of listings. HUD sets it at the rent 40% of recent movers paid or less for a standard unit, so a new lease on a nicer place will usually cost more.
Is Northampton, MA expensive to live in?
Prices there run 0.2% above the U.S. average. BEA's regional price parity for the metro area is 100.2, where the U.S. is 100. Rent moves the number most: housing is where places differ, while goods cost about the same everywhere.
How much do you need to earn to comfortably afford rent in Northampton, MA?
To keep a $2,004 two-bedroom under 30% of gross income, a household needs about $80,160 a year, or $6,680 a month. That is 100% of what the typical household in Northampton, MA earns.
How much do you need to live comfortably in Northampton, MA?
On the local median income of $80,288 ($6,691 a month before tax), the 50/30/20 rule leaves $3,345 a month for needs like rent, utilities and groceries, $2,007 for everything else and $1,338 for savings or debt. A two-bedroom at $2,004 takes 60% of the needs share.
How much is the electric bill in Northampton, MA?
Homes in Massachusetts paid 29.6¢ per kWh on average (EIA). At 900 kWh a month, a typical use, that is about $266. Your bill depends mostly on heating and cooling.