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Aerial view of downtown Northampton, Massachusetts.

Living in Northampton, Massachusetts

Northampton is the county seat of Hampshire County, on the Connecticut River in the Pioneer Valley. Settled under a charter granted in 1653 and incorporated as a city in 1883, it is home to Smith College and a downtown built around Main Street that draws visitors from across the region. The villages of Florence and Leeds, along the Mill River northwest of downtown, are part of the city.

Downtown NorthamptonFlorenceLeeds

By James Allen, NMLS 1216446 · Updated

Photo: Quintin Soloviev, CC BY 4.0

Northampton at a glance

Northampton's villages and zip codes

Downtown Northampton uses ZIP codes 01060-01061, Florence uses 01062, and Leeds has its own ZIP code, 01053.

Northampton villages and zip codes
AreaZip codeWhere it is
Downtown Northampton01060The Main Street commercial core, where City Hall, Smith College and Thornes Marketplace are located.
Florence01062A village northwest of downtown along the Mill River, with its own commercial center.
Leeds01053A smaller village further up the Mill River from Florence, with its own ZIP code.

Things to do in Northampton, MA

Start with Smith College campus and Look Park, then 3 more below.

  1. Smith College campus

    A private women's liberal arts college founded in 1871, with a public botanic garden, the Lyman Conservatory, and the Smith College Museum of Art open to visitors.

    Year-round

    Elm Street, Northampton, MA

    Plan a visit

  2. Look Park

    A more than 150-acre park with gardens, a small zoo, a train ride, tennis courts, and pedestrian and cycling paths; free to enter on foot or by bike, with a parking fee for vehicles in season.

    Year-round

    300 North Main St, Florence, MA

    Plan a visit

  3. Forbes Library

    The city's public library, built in 1894, which also houses the only presidential library for a U.S. president born in Massachusetts, honoring Calvin Coolidge, who served as Northampton's mayor before becoming president.

    FreeYear-round

    20 West St, Northampton, MA

    Plan a visit

  4. Academy of Music Theatre

    A theater built in 1890, cited as one of the oldest municipally-owned theaters in the country, hosting films and live performances.

    Year-round

    274 Main St, Northampton, MA

  5. Thornes Marketplace

    A 19th-century commercial building in downtown Northampton converted into a multi-level marketplace with dozens of independent shops and eateries.

    Year-round

    150 Main St, Northampton, MA

More worth a visit

  • Iron Horse Music HallA longtime downtown music venue hosting touring and local acts.
  • The OxbowA scenic former bend of the Connecticut River, viewed from Skinner State Park across the river in Hadley.

Around the calendar

  • May
    Paradise City Arts FestivalA juried fine arts and crafts festival held at the Three County Fairgrounds over Memorial Day weekend, with a second edition each Columbus Day weekend.
  • May
    Northampton PrideAn annual LGBTQ pride parade and festival held on the first Saturday in May, among the longest-running Pride events in the country.
  • September
    Three County FairAn agricultural fair held at the Tri-County Fairgrounds, tracing its founding to 1818.

A little history

Northampton was settled under a charter granted on May 18, 1653, and grew as a farming and mill town along the Connecticut and Mill rivers before incorporating as a city in 1883.

A dam failure on the Mill River on May 16, 1874, sent a flood through Williamsburg and Northampton's Leeds and Florence villages, killing 139 people.

Smith College was founded in Northampton in 1871, and Calvin Coolidge served as the city's mayor from 1910 to 1911 before later becoming U.S. president.

Parks, trails and outdoors in Northampton

Northampton's outdoor recreation runs along the Mill River through Look Park and Florence, and along the Connecticut River and its historic Oxbow bend.

  • Look ParkOver 150 acres of gardens, ponds, and paths along the Mill River in Florence.More information
  • Norwottuck Rail TrailThe Northampton end of an 11-mile paved rail trail running east through Hadley and Amherst to Belchertown, crossing the Connecticut River on a former rail bridge.
  • Mineral Hills Conservation AreaA city conservation area with hiking and mountain biking trails west of downtown.

Where to eat in Northampton: restaurants and coffee

3 places in Northampton to try, including cafe and coffee roaster and bakery and sandwich shop. No one paid to be listed.

Walkability and getting around Northampton

Downtown Northampton, centered on Main Street, is dense and walkable with sidewalks connecting Smith College, City Hall, and Thornes Marketplace, and Florence has its own smaller walkable center, but outlying residential areas generally require a car.

Downtown Northampton

210 Main Street, Northampton, MA 01060

Check any Northampton address

Drive times

  • Springfield, about 19 miles25-30 min
  • Bradley International Airport, about 27 miles40-45 min

Approximate, without traffic.

By bus or train

Amtrak's Vermonter and Valley Flyer trains stop at Northampton's station downtown, connecting to Springfield, Hartford, New Haven and points north to Vermont. The Pioneer Valley Transit Authority (PVTA) runs local bus routes connecting downtown, Florence, and neighboring towns including Amherst and Easthampton.

Northampton property taxes

Northampton's FY2026 residential tax rate is $13.67 per $1,000 of assessed value. Massachusetts assesses homes at full value, so each $100,000 of assessed value costs about $1,367 a year. The average single-family tax bill was $7,801, on an average assessed value of $570,686.

Northampton's FY2026 tax rates

$13.67per $1,000, residential

  • Residential$13.67 per $1,000
  • Average single-family assessed value$570,686
  • Average single-family tax bill$7,801
  • Motor vehicle excise (statewide)$25 per $1,000 of value

Source: Massachusetts Division of Local Services, Tax Rates by Class and Average Single Family Tax Bill.

Northampton property tax calculator

$
Assessed value (100%)
–
Taxes a year
–
About this much a month
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Estimate at the FY2026 residential rate; the assessor's value sets the bill.

Add it to a full payment estimate

How the residential rate has changed

Fiscal yearResidential rate
FY2022$17.89
FY2023$15.84
FY2024$15.19
FY2025$13.93
FY2026$13.67

Look up a Northampton property

Buying a home in Northampton

What we check on a Northampton purchase: MassHousing limits, the flood map, the smoke certificate, smoke & co certificate, river flood zones.

MassHousing

First-time buyer programs

MassHousing sets its own income and price limits for Hampshire County. We check them with you before you shop.

MassHousing home loans
Flood maps

Check the flood zone first

Northampton sits along the Connecticut and Mill rivers; a Mill River dam failure caused a deadly flood through Leeds and Florence in 1874, and low-lying parcels near both rivers remain in FEMA-mapped flood zones. We check FEMA's map before you offer.

FEMA's flood map for Northampton
Before closing

Smoke and CO certificate

Massachusetts requires the seller to get a smoke and carbon monoxide certificate from the Northampton Fire Department before the sale closes.

Smoke & CO certificate

Massachusetts requires a smoke and CO certificate before closing

Sellers in Massachusetts need a smoke detector and carbon monoxide alarm compliance certificate from the local fire department before a home sale can close. Northampton's Fire/Rescue Department handles these inspections.

River flood zones

Check FEMA flood maps near the Connecticut and Mill rivers

Parts of Northampton along the Connecticut River and the Mill River through Florence and Leeds fall within FEMA-mapped flood zones. We check the flood map before you make an offer near either river.

All loans are subject to credit approval, underwriting, and property and program requirements. MassHousing limits and eligibility are set by MassHousing and change from time to time.

James Allen

Thinking about buying in Northampton?

We're licensed in Massachusetts. Send us a Northampton address and we'll run the numbers, taxes included.

Call (860) 398-5268 Text us Email the team

Compare loan optionsOur process

Moving to Northampton: utilities, trash and city hall

Who to call in Northampton: National Grid for power.

Locust Street Transfer Station

Locust St, Northampton, MA

$75 annual permit

Transfer station details

City Hall offices and contacts

Northampton City Hall is at 210 Main Street, Northampton, MA 01060. Main line: 413-587-4900.

Northampton, MA FAQ: taxes and town services

What is the property tax rate in Northampton, MA?

Northampton's FY2026 residential tax rate is $13.67 per $1,000 of assessed value. Massachusetts fiscal years run July 1 to June 30.

How much are property taxes on a $400,000 home in Northampton?

Massachusetts taxes homes on their full assessed value. If a home is assessed at $400,000, that's about $5,468 a year at $13.67 per $1,000. The bill uses the assessor's value, not the sale price.

Does Northampton have a split tax rate?

No. Northampton uses a single rate of $13.67 per $1,000 for all property classes.

What is the average single-family tax bill in Northampton?

The average single-family tax bill in Northampton was $7,801 for FY2026, on an average assessed value of $570,686.

What county is Northampton, MA in?

Northampton is the county seat of Hampshire County, in the Pioneer Valley.

What ZIP codes does Northampton use?

Downtown Northampton uses 01060, Florence uses 01062, and Leeds has its own ZIP code, 01053.

How far is Northampton from Springfield?

Northampton is about 19 miles from Springfield, roughly a 25-30 minute drive.

Is there a train station in Northampton?

Yes. Amtrak's Vermonter and Valley Flyer trains stop at Northampton's downtown station, connecting to Springfield, Hartford, New Haven and Vermont.

Who supplies electricity in Northampton?

National Grid provides electric service in Northampton.

Is trash pickup curbside or pay-as-you-throw in Northampton?

Northampton uses a pay-as-you-throw system with prepaid trash bags, and residents can also buy an annual permit to use the Locust Street Transfer Station.

Towns near Northampton

Neighbors of Northampton, including across the Connecticut line where it applies. All Massachusetts town guides.

Sources