Welcome to our beautiful town of Northampton in the state of Massachusetts, in the north-eastern part of the United States of America. The state is green and lush, has warm summers and crisp, cold and snowy winters. We love it here, and we think you might do too!
Northampton, MA has all the fun of a city with the friendliness of a town
Northampton, MA is the cultural center of Western Massachusetts with a lively community of 30,000 inhabitants.
Fourteen colleges and universities contribute to the rich cultural atmosphere of this area, commonly called the Pioneer Valley. It has all the cultural, business, and educational amenities of an urban area surrounded by a beautiful, rural landscape with incredible recreational opportunities.
Northampton is known as the #1 small arts town in the US. Take a look with us.
The school is located in a historical building in downtown Northampton that offers both the fun of a city and the friendliness of town. As a student, you not only learn language and cultural skills but also join a warm, welcoming community.
Feel the love – Massachusetts is a liberal, open-minded state, and you’ll find the folks in Northampton to be warm and friendly.
Eat out and meet new people – Plenty of restaurants, cafes and night clubs, and great staff. If you like craft beer, book now. It’s amazing here.
Feel the vibe – A rich and thriving live music scene whatever your taste.
Learn about America’s past – world-class museums tackling tough issues.
Be inspired – There are many art galleries and pop-up cultural events to get you thinking out of the box.
Go shop – One-of-a-kind boutiques and shops locally, or of course, hit Boston and New York!
Quick connections – Vermont and Connecticut are only 30 miles away. Easy transit to Boston and New York City via train or bus.
“Northampton is diverse, open-minded, and welcoming to international students and is one of the “greenest” towns in Massachusetts.”
Study Travel Magazine
Northampton’s history
In 2029, Northampton will celebrate its 375th year since its charter was granted in 1654.
We recognize that Northampton’s growth and success are deeply rooted in the significant contributions and traditional land stewardship of Indigenous and First Peoples, including the Nipmuc and Pocumtuc Nations, who have resided in this region for longer than anyone can remember. Our ongoing prosperity relies on acknowledging and learning from our rich, complex history.
The Nipmuc, an Indigenous group from the Northeastern Woodlands, traditionally communicated in an Eastern Algonquian dialect. Their ancestral homeland, known as Nippenet or “the place of the freshwater pond,” spans central Massachusetts and adjacent regions in Connecticut and Rhode Island. The Pocomtuc Indians were a Native American tribe historically inhabiting western areas of Massachusetts. The Central Connecticut River Valley was historically the main area of Pocomtuc settlement.
The area now known as Northampton, Massachusetts was named “Norwottuck” or “Nonotuck,” meaning “the midst of the river,” by the Pocumtuc natives.
Following European contact, the Pocumtuc population was largely wiped out by smallpox epidemics due to their lack of immunity. Their numbers reduced further as they participated in wars involving the Dutch, English, French, and their Native American allies.
The Connecticut River facilitated trade between Northampton, Springfield, and Hartford, leading to rapid growth. In 1835, merchants from New Haven, aiming to increase their share in river trade, sponsored the construction of a canal connecting their city to Northampton. However, the canal’s existence was brief and was soon replaced by rail lines.
Northampton’s museums, including Historic Northampton on Bridge Street looks deeply into Massachusetts’ indigenous native history and the history of slavery in the region. Historic Northampton seeks to look long and hard at historical wrongdoing and preserve and tell the stories that were often considered unimportant and were hidden from records.
Northampton is located 130 miles to the north of New York City, 80 miles west of Boston, Massachusetts. 20 miles to the north of Northampton is the neighboring state of Vermont.
The nearest major airport is Bradley International, 30 miles to the south in Connecticut. It’s big enough to receive flights from around the world, but small enough to mean wait times are short and you can get out of the airport and on your way quickly.
If you’re coming to us as an international student of English, we’ll usually recommend that we meet you at the airport, so we can take you straight to your accommodations.
Northampton temperatures
Temperatures seem to be rising each year due to the effects of climate change. However Northampton has crisp, cold winters with plenty of snow to enjoy and warm summers which rarely get above 33°C. Thanks to Weather Spark for these monthly average temperatures.
January
February
March
April
May
June
High
1°C
3°C
8°C
15°C
21°C
26°C
Low
-8°C
-7°C
-2°C
4°C
9°C
14°C
July
August
September
October
November
December
High
28°C
27°C
23°C
16°C
10°C
4°C
Low
17°C
16°C
11°C
5°C
1°C
-4°C
We hope you’ll come and spend time with us in Northampton. We’re biased, but we think it’s the best place to learn English, and we’re pretty certain you’re going to make life-long friends here too. See you soon!
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The ILI Promise
At ILI, we believe that all our actions should stem from grace and loving kindness.
We operate as an equal opportunity organization.
We nurture relationships beyond the classroom.
We are committed to providing the highest quality language instruction and teacher training.
We promote intercultural understanding and celebrate the diversity in our local communities.
We work collaboratively to build and sustain the communities we serve.
We believe in life-changing teaching and learning.
