RANK #518 / 1001 NAT · #5 / 12 MA · POP 162,028
1YR FORECAST: +0.4%
5YR OUTLOOK: +28%
Northampton, the county seat, stands out in Hampshire County, Massachusetts, a region known for its academic institutions and natural scenery. Located in Western Massachusetts, roughly 90 miles west of Boston, the county offers a different pace than the state's eastern urban centers. Commuting to Boston is a two-hour drive, though public transportation options exist from nearby areas. The area is characterized by rolling green hills and a mix of rural and developed towns, with extensive opportunities for outdoor recreation like hiking, biking on rail trails, and water sports.
Life in Hampshire County often revolves around its academic community, with the Five Colleges (Amherst College, Hampshire College, Mount Holyoke College, Smith College, and the University of Massachusetts Amherst) contributing to the area's character. Public schools in towns like Northampton and Amherst are recognized for their quality. The economy is seeing new investment in technology sectors, including food science and quantum innovation, particularly around the University of Massachusetts Amherst. This contributes to a local economy that blends educational institutions with emerging industries.
Hampshire County is one of 110 U.S. counties in this market profile — near the profile average on the BoomTown Index. Within this cohort, its recent home-price change of +1.2% runs below the profile's typical +2.4%.
See all 110 Educated Suburban Growth counties →Overvalued relative to economy
Below national median
Below-average climate & terrain
Below national median (15x)
Housing looks overvalued at 15.5x — home prices are high relative to local economic output. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.
Estimated local headcount ranges. Larger employers shown as floor + "+"; smaller employers show exact counts where reported.
Bars show trailing 12-month growth. The dashed Forecast bars are the model's next-12-month projection; the whisker marks the ±1% range (cooling–accelerating).
Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →
Source: CDC/NCHS vital statistics via County Health Rankings (2020–2022 avg). Rates per 100,000 population. Grade based on homicide rate relative to national average (~6.3). Learn more →
Source: EPA Air Quality System (2021–2023). Grade based on 3-year average median AQI. Learn about AQI →
| PROJECT | AMOUNT | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
|
Westfield Data Center Campus
Servistar Realties, LLC
|
$3,000M | Planned |
|
Community Solar Portfolio (Multiple Projects)
Various
|
$50M | Operating |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 1001 counties.
Hampshire County scores 48/100 on the Boom Town Index, landing in the middle of the pack among 1001 U.S. counties (#518). Median household income is $87,001 and job growth is running at -1.4%. The data points to a county with mixed signals — some positive indicators alongside areas that lag faster-growing peers.
Hampshire County leans toward the expensive side. A median home value of $390,300 against an income-to-home-value ratio of 0.22 means housing eats a bigger share of local earnings than the national norm. Renters face $1,388/month on average.
Hampshire County is attracting residents (population +3.5% YoY) even as the job market softens with employment at -1.4%. Housing values changed +1.2% over the past 12 months. People may be moving here for affordability or lifestyle reasons rather than job opportunities.
In significant numbers — 7.95% of Hampshire County's current population relocated from another state, well above the national norm. That level of in-migration usually signals a county where jobs, affordability, or quality of life are pulling people in from elsewhere.