What stands out worked out from the figures below

Deerfield has the most homeowners (78.4%).

Northampton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.6%).

What matters to you?

Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Deerfield	Northampton
People
Population	5,158Lowest	30,962Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.7%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+3.6%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	51.8±3.6Highest 30% above MA	41.3±2.2Lowest 3% above MA
Kids under 18	13.2%±3.7Lowest MA: 19.4%	16%±1.8Highest MA: 19.4%
	Northampton and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.9%±4.2Highest MA: 17.9%	20.4%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Deerfield and Northampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	44.4%Lowest MA: 47.3%	62.7%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	7.9%±3.4Lowest MA: 7.9%	14%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$106,136±$14kHighest about the MA average	$80,288±$6kLowest 23% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$414,900±$37kLowest 26% below MA	$429,700±$17kHighest 24% below MA
	Northampton and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,334±$318Lowest 24% below MA	$1,439±$75Highest 18% below MA
	Northampton and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,824Highest about the MA average	$5,680Lowest 5% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	26.1%±15.1Lowest MA: 51.8%	57.6%±6.7Highest MA: 51.8%
Below poverty line	7.8%Lowest MA: 10%	13.4%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	78.4%Highest MA: 62.5%	57.3%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1972Highest 8 yrs newer than MA	1955Lowest 9 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	18 minLowest 40% below MA	21 minHighest 26% below MA
Work from home	17.5%±6.2Lowest MA: 18.6%	24.1%±3.4Highest MA: 18.6%
	Northampton and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#156 of 282 in MA	#159 of 282 in MA
School district	Deerfield · Frontier	Northampton · Northampton-Smith Vocational Agricultural
High school in town	Frontier Regional	Northampton High
Students per teacherat that high school	11.1Lowest	14.7Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	None yet

MA average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.