Northampton, known to locals as Noho, is the cultural anchor of western Massachusetts, with about 30,000 people and Smith College at its center. Main Street is packed with independent bookstores, restaurants, and music venues like the Calvin Theatre and Iron Horse. The mood is progressive, artsy and easygoing, and the Five College area keeps a steady supply of students and ideas.
Visitors browse downtown, see the Smith College Museum of Art, bike the Norwottuck Rail Trail, and hike Mount Tom. Paradise City Arts Festival draws crowds twice a year, and fall foliage is excellent. Living here is expensive by New England standards, and inventory is tight because of the college demand. Winters bring ice and nor'easters, ticks and Lyme are a concern on trails, and there is visible homelessness and some late-night disorder downtown. Crime is otherwise near typical levels, and the region's hospitals are good.
