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Retirement Living In Northampton - Massachusetts


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Area Description

Tucked into the foothills of the Berkshire Mountains, Northampton is an adorable New England town, that leans staunchly liberal and attracts scores of aging hippies, students and artists.
This college town is home to 5 top-notch colleges, including Amherst College, University of Massachusetts at Amherst, Hampshire College, Mt. Holyoke and Smith. Retirees with a bent toward learning can take continuing education classes at any of these institutions, or sign up for the Five College Learning in Retirement program, a joint venture among the 5 schools that offer a variety of lectures, courses and special interest programs that cover topics like literature, culinary arts and travel.

The town’s rich cultural scene is bolstered by performances at Smith College’s New Century Theatre, the Paradise City Arts Festival, the Northampton Independent Film Festival and the town’s Academy of Music.

Outdoor lovers won’t be disappointed, either. The town is near the Berkshire Mountains, several state parks, city conservation areas and just a few minutes from the Arcadia Wildlife Sanctuary, and is a haven for bikers and hikers with 25 miles of trails.

Foodies will enjoy their fair share of farm-to-table restaurants, as well as a number of ethnic eateries, such as Tibetan, Thai and Vietnamese, thanks in large part to the eclectic tastes of the town’s student population.

Retirees will enjoy wandering the charming, historic downtown, where a number of independently owned bookshops, coffee shops and boutiques line the streets.

Region Characteristics



Area Amenities

Things to Do, Recreation & Fitness


    Artists, farmers, scholars and professionals come together in harmony in beautiful Northampton, where the Connecticut River winds through the wooded hills of the Pioneer Valley. Once home to such diverse notables as U.S. president Calvin Coolidge, abolitionist Sojourner Truth, author Kurt Vonnegut and punk rockers Kim Gordon and Thurston Moore, and current home of the all women's Smith College, the city is famed for its arts scene and liberal values, plus a thriving lesbian community. This five-college community is known as an academic, artistic, musical, and countercultural hub. It features a large politically liberal community along with numerous alternative health and intellectual organizations

Many outdoor activities are available, such as hiking, biking, downhill & cross-country skiing, and water sports on the longest Connecticut River tributary in Massachusetts.

Cultural Activities


In the late 19th century, the City of Northampton, Massachusetts was nicknamed "The Paradise City of America" by famed opera singer Jenny Lind. Contemporary vistors to this vibrant college town on the Connecticut River will find that the nickname still fits--although these days, many call the bohemian city "NoHo."

Public transportation


The Pioneer Valley Transit Authority run throughout the valley. Bus fares for seniors is .60 and they run all night and all day during the college semester. All different routes. The international airport that serves the Pioneer Valley is Bradley International Airport, which is located 12 miles south of Springfield in Windsor Locks, Connecticut.

Medical Facilities


Cooley Dickinson Hospital in collaboration with Mass. General Hospital in Boston, has a new Cancer Care Center
Northampton Health Center/Valley Medical Group
OnCall Urgent Care Centers
VA Medical Center


What Will The Climate And Weather Be Like If I Retire In Northampton, Massachusetts?

For those of you that retire in Northampton, you will enjoy warm summers, a cool fall, a cold winter and a temperate spring!

Winter temperatures are cold with averages in the mid 20's and highs in the mid 30's. Nights are cold with lows in the mid 10's. You may have a few days below 0°. Expect some rainy days in the winter. Assume a few days of snow with a lot of days with snow remaining on the ground so you can enjoy some winter skiing!

If the weather in the spring is too cold for the outdoors, enjoy some indoor activities in Northampton such as a movie, a visit to a museum, dining, nightlife or some shopping. Spring temperatures are cold with averages in the mid 40's and highs in the upper 50's. Nights are cold with lows in the mid 30's. Expect a lot of rainy days in the Spring, great for a day of shopping in Northampton!

Summertime in Northampton is a great time to enjoy your retirement with a day at the lake, an outdoor concert, a local festival or other outdoor activity! Summer temperatures are mild with averages in the upper 60's and highs in the low 80's. Nights are cool with lows in the upper 50's. Humidity may feel "sticky" with muggy evenings. Expect some rainy days in the summer.

If you retire in Northampton, you can look forward to fall weather activities such as biking on a bike path, hiking, enjoying a walking path and more! Fall temperatures are cool with averages in the low 50's and highs in the low 60's. Nights are cold with lows in the upper 30's. Expect some rainy days in the fall.

Monthly Temperature Ranges

 Month  Low  Avg  High
 Jan  13 F°  23 F°  33 F°
 Feb  16 F°  26 F°  37 F°
 Mar  24 F°  35 F°  46 F°
 Apr  35 F°  47 F°  59 F°
 May  45 F°  57 F°  69 F°
 Jun  54 F°  66 F°  78 F°
 Jul  59 F°  70 F°  82 F°
 Aug  57 F°  69 F°  81 F°
 Sep  49 F°  61 F°  73 F°
 Oct  38 F°  50 F°  61 F°
 Nov  30 F°  40 F°  50 F°
 Dec  20 F°  29 F°  38 F°

Monthly Average # of Hot and Cold Days

 Month  Days Greater Than 90 F°  Days Less Than 32 F°  Days Less Than 0 F°
 Jan  0  30  5
 Feb  0  27  2
 Mar  0  26  1
 Apr  0  11  0
 May  0  2  0
 Jun  1  0  0
 Jul  3  0  0
 Aug  2  0  0
 Sep  0  1  0
 Oct  0  10  0
 Nov  0  19  0
 Dec  0  28  1

Rain & Humidity

 Month  Rainfall  Rainy Days  Humidity
 Jan  3 "  10  15 %
 Feb  3 "  8  17 %
 Mar  4 "  10  23 %
 Apr  4 "  10  33 %
 May  4 "  12  44 %
 Jun  4 "  11  56 %
 Jul  4 "  10  61 %
 Aug  4 "  9  60 %
 Sep  4 "  9  53 %
 Oct  5 "  9  41 %
 Nov  4 "  10  31 %
 Dec  4 "  10  21 %

Snow

 Month  Snowfall  Snow On Ground Days  Snowy Days
 Jan  12 "  19  6
 Feb  9 "  17  4
 Mar  7 "  9  3
 Apr  1 "  1  1
 May  0 "  0  0
 Jun  0 "  0  0
 Jul  0 "  0  0
 Aug  0 "  0  0
 Sep  0 "  0  0
 Oct  0 "  0  0
 Nov  2 "  1  1
 Dec  8 "  11  4


Natural Disaster Areas


Cost of Living for Northampton, MA

Northampton, Massachusetts cost of living for Housing, Healthcare, Transportation, Taxes, Utilities, etc.:

 Cost of Living

Demographics

Race

Religion

Political Party

Age

Senior Housing Options

The cost of living in Northampton is slightly higher than the national average, and the median home prices is $228,000. The town is extremely safe, with a crime rate that’s 70% lower than the national average.

Senior Assistance in Northampton, MA

Northampton, Massachusetts offers the following assistance for seniors:

What Job or Volunteer Opportunities Does Northampton Offer For Retirees?

Jobs are all around the Northampton Area as well as the surrounding towns. With Northampton, Amherst, Springfield and many more towns all so close there is thousands of different work options.

Additional Information

Visitor Information


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