What stands out worked out from the figures below

Deerfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.7%).

Northfield has the most kids (14.8% under 18).

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	Northfield
People
Population	5,158Highest	2,872Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.7%Highest MA: +7.4%	-5.5%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	51.8±3.6Highest 30% above MA	48.9±4.2Lowest 22% above MA
	Deerfield and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	13.2%±3.7Lowest MA: 19.4%	14.8%±4.1Highest MA: 19.4%
	Northfield and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.9%±4.2Lowest MA: 17.9%	25.5%±5.1Highest MA: 17.9%
	Northfield and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	44.4%Highest MA: 47.3%	42.4%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	7.9%±3.4Highest MA: 7.9%	4.4%±3Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Deerfield and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$106,136±$14kHighest about the MA average	$103,375±$10kLowest about the MA average
	Deerfield and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$414,900±$37kHighest 26% below MA	$375,800±$31kLowest 33% below MA
	Deerfield and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,334±$318Highest 24% below MA	$1,142±$200Lowest 35% below MA
	Deerfield and Northfield 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	$4,594Lowest 23% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	26.1%±15.1Lowest MA: 51.8%	49.2%±25.9Highest MA: 51.8%
	Northfield and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.8%Highest MA: 10%	6.8%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	78.4%Lowest MA: 62.5%	85.1%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1972Highest 8 yrs newer than MA	1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	18 minLowest 40% below MA	31 minHighest 8% above MA
Work from home	17.5%±6.2Highest MA: 18.6%	16.5%±10.3Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Deerfield and Northfield 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	#231 of 282 in MA
School district	Deerfield · Frontier	Pioneer Valley
High school in town	Frontier Regional	Pioneer Valley Regional
Students per teacherat that high school	11.1Highest	10.7Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.