Compare towns
Douglas vs Erving vs Northfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Douglas has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Erving has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Northfield has the oldest population (median age 48.9).
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.
| Measure | Douglas | Erving | Northfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,207Highest |
1,703Lowest |
2,872 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-7.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
-5.5% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44±2.6 10% above MA |
43.3±2.4Lowest 8% above MA |
48.9±4.2Highest 22% above MA |
| Northfield and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.2%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.3%±3.2 MA: 19.4% |
14.8%±4.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Douglas and Erving are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.4%±3.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.6%±2.4 MA: 17.9% |
25.5%±5.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Northfield and Erving are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.7% MA: 47.3% |
24.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
42.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.8%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±3 MA: 7.9% |
| Douglas and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $152,267±$10kHighest 46% above MA |
$77,656±$9kLowest 25% below MA |
$103,375±$10k about the MA average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $470,600±$29kHighest 16% below MA |
$271,800±$20kLowest 52% below MA |
$375,800±$31k 33% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,503±$697Highest 15% below MA |
$1,163±$213 34% below MA |
$1,142±$200Lowest 35% below MA |
| Douglas and Erving are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,338Highest 6% above MA |
$1,870Lowest 69% below MA |
$4,594 23% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.9%±17.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
46.5%±23 MA: 51.8% |
49.2%±25.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Northfield and Erving are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.2% MA: 10% |
6.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.8% MA: 62.5% |
81.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
1962 2 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 16% above MA |
28 minLowest 4% below MA |
31 min 8% above MA |
| Work from home | 20.9%±4.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
3.6%±2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16.5%±10.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Douglas 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 | #177 of 282 in MA | — | #231 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Douglas | Erving | Pioneer Valley |
| High school in town | Douglas High School | None in town | Pioneer Valley Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.2Lowest |
— | 10.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.