Franklin, NH vs Northampton, PA: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Northampton, PA has a modeled overall cost index 18.2% lower than Franklin, NH.

Franklin, NH · modeled 2BR rent: $1,700 / month
Northampton, PA · modeled 2BR rent: $1,570 / month

These are saved estimates, not current rental listings. Some cities use adjusted regional data. Your household budget can differ from the overall index. Sources and assumptions

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Cost of Living Comparison 2026

Compare Franklin, NH and Northampton, PA using saved regional data and explicit budgeting assumptions. Rent estimates are not live listings. Change the salary below, then check the source notes before applying a result to your household.

Saved regional estimates · Sources and assumptions

Current salary in Franklin, NH

Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated savings: $1,348/month in Northampton, PA

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $133,825 in Northampton, PA

Regional cost estimates: Franklin, NH uses Boston, MA. Northampton, PA uses Philadelphia, PA. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.

Overall Cost

↓ 18.2%

Less expensive

Monthly Impact

$1,348

Savings

Annual Impact

$16.2K

Per year

Assumes 60% of current gross income goes to living costs. The headline uses the category budget below; taxes, moving costs and savings goals are excluded.

Franklin, NH

Population:9K

Cost Index:

109.3

100 = national average

Typical Home:$365K

Northampton, PA

Population:10K

Cost Index:

89.4

100 = national average

Typical Home:$336K

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Franklin, NH

The Live Free or Die State

Population

State Tax

No Income Tax

Located in New Hampshire, this city has a population of 9K residents.

💡 Advantage: New Hampshire has no state income tax!

Northampton, PA

The Keystone State

10K

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in Pennsylvania, this city has a population of 10K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Franklin, NH vs Northampton, PA

Assumes 60% of your current gross income is spent on these categories. The headline and totals use this same budget. Rent estimates below are separate reference data. Rounded amounts may differ by $1.

Category	Franklin, NH	Northampton, PA	Difference	Change
Housing	$3,133/mo	$1,654/mo	↓ $1,479less	47.2%
Other	$1,204/mo	$1,410/mo	↑ $206more	17.1%
Groceries	$831/mo	$934/mo	↑ $102more	12.3%
Transportation	$1,208/mo	$1,129/mo	↓ $78.98less	6.5%
Healthcare	$573/mo	$513/mo	↓ $59.47less	10.4%
All Utilities	$551/mo	$513/mo	↓ $38.70less	7.0%

Housing

↓ 47.2%

Franklin, NH

$3,133

Northampton, PA

$1,654

Difference

$1,479

less

Other

↑ 17.1%

Franklin, NH

$1,204

Northampton, PA

$1,410

Difference

$206

Groceries

↑ 12.3%

Franklin, NH

$831

Northampton, PA

$934

Difference

$102

Transportation

↓ 6.5%

Franklin, NH

$1,208

Northampton, PA

$1,129

Difference

$78.98

less

Healthcare

↓ 10.4%

Franklin, NH

$573

Northampton, PA

$513

Difference

$59.47

less

All Utilities

↓ 7.0%

Franklin, NH

$551

Northampton, PA

$513

Difference

$38.70

less

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio

From$1,170

To$1,090

↓ $80.00

1 Bed

From$1,300

To$1,290

↓ $10.00

2 Bed

From$1,700

To$1,570

↓ $130

3 Bed

From$2,240

To$2,010

↓ $230

Franklin, NHZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,300–$1,300/mo

Northampton, PAZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,290–$1,290/mo

💡 Note: HUD Fair Market Rents estimate 40th-percentile gross rents, including most tenant-paid utilities. City ZIP summaries are medians of those estimates, not market median rents. Actual prices vary by neighborhood, amenities, and condition. Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents FY2026.

$7,500

Monthly in Franklin, NH

$6,152

Monthly in Northampton, PA

$1,348

Difference

Home Values

Franklin

Northampton

$365K

Median Value

$336K

↑ +5.1%

YoY Change

↑ +1.8%

↑ +58.5%

5-Year Change

↑ +40.4%

Homes in Northampton are 8% less expensive than Franklin

Calculate payment - Franklin Calculate payment - Northampton

Source: Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI), January 2026

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings

↓ $4.6K

More taxes

Monthly Difference

$384

Less take-home

Effective Rate Diff

3.1%

Rate difference

Franklin, NH

Federal Income Tax

Effective: 18.9%

$25.5K

New Hampshire State Tax

No state income tax

FICA Taxes

Social Security + Medicare

$11.5K

Total Taxes

Effective: 24.7%

$37.0K

Take-Home Pay

$9,416/month

$113.0K

Northampton, PA

Federal Income Tax

Effective: 18.9%

$25.5K

Pennsylvania State Tax

Effective: 3.1%

$4.6K

FICA Taxes

Social Security + Medicare

$11.5K

Total Taxes

Effective: 27.7%

$41.6K

Take-Home Pay

$9,032/month

$108.4K

Additional Tax Information

Franklin, NH Tax Rates

Sales Tax:0.0%

Property Tax:1.9%

Northampton, PA Tax Rates

Sales Tax:6.5%

Property Tax:1.4%

💡 Note: Tax calculations are estimates based on 2024/2025 tax brackets for single filers with standard deduction. Actual taxes may vary based on filing status, deductions, credits, and local variations.

Environment

Franklin

Northampton

36 Good

Air Quality

52 Moderate

79.5%

Good Air Days

47.3%

94 Moderate

Climate Risk

100 Very High

🌊🌅🌀

Top Hazards

🌊🌅🌀

▲+2.5°F

2050 Outlook

▲+2.9°F

6 days

Heat Days >95°F

22 days

▲+2.5°F

2050 Outlook

▲+2.9°F

6 days

Heat Days >95°F

22 days

Before moving from Franklin, NH to Northampton, PA

Use this comparison to shortlist a move, then check the costs that depend on your household.

Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Northampton, PA for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Franklin, NH. Add parking, deposits, insurance and any overlapping leases. The rent estimates above are a starting point, not available listings.
Confirm your income. Check your expected pay with your employer, including any location adjustment. Use “Different salary at destination?” above to compare two incomes. The budget model excludes taxes and one-time moving costs; it is not a take-home-pay calculation.
Price your daily routine. Check the commute from a specific address to work, school or childcare. Add household expenses missing from this model, such as childcare, debt payments and medical needs. Verify local services before signing a lease.
Plan the transition. Get moving quotes and budget for travel, setup costs and time off. Open your Franklin to Northampton moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

Still choosing a destination? Explore cities similar to Northampton, PA by cost, housing, population and region.

Frequently Asked Questions: Franklin, NH vs Northampton, PA

How do the cost estimates for Franklin, NH and Northampton, PA compare?

Northampton, PA has a modeled overall cost index 18.2% lower than Franklin, NH. This is a broad model comparison, not a survey of today's prices or a forecast of your household spending. Some cities use adjusted regional fallback data.

What does the equivalent salary mean?

At a $150,000 salary in Franklin, NH, the model estimates $133,825 in Northampton, PA. It allocates 60% of gross income to the origin city’s category budget and applies each destination category’s relative cost. The equivalent salary adds the total category difference to your income. The monthly difference is the same category difference divided by 12; it is not take-home pay or guaranteed savings. Household size, childcare and your actual lease are not inputs to this calculation.

What rent estimates are available for Franklin, NH and Northampton, PA?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,700/month in Franklin, NH and $1,570/month in Northampton, PA. Where available, the source is a city median of HUD FY2026 ZIP-level estimates; otherwise a saved metro table is used. City adjustments may also apply. These are not asking rents or available listings. Compare actual properties with the same bedroom count and included utilities.

How should I use this comparison before moving?

Use it to shortlist locations, then replace modeled costs with a current housing quote, employer-confirmed income, commute costs, insurance and your household's other expenses. Add one-time moving costs separately. Source years differ and the saved datasets are not a live price feed. Read the methodology for the formulas and fallback rules.

💰 See how taxes change too — compare take-home pay between New Hampshire and Pennsylvania on TaxTakeHome.com