Compare towns
Erving vs Northfield vs Plainfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Erving has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Northfield has the highest household income ($103k).
Plainfield has the most people working from home (26.2%).
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 | Erving | Northfield | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,703 |
2,872Highest |
616Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
-5.5% MA: +7.4% |
-2.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.3±2.4Lowest 8% above MA |
48.9±4.2 22% above MA |
50.6±9.5Highest 27% above MA |
| Plainfield and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±3.2 MA: 19.4% |
14.8%±4.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19%±9.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Plainfield and Erving are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±2.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
25.5%±5.1 MA: 17.9% |
29.5%±7.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Plainfield and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
42.4% MA: 47.3% |
52.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±3 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Plainfield and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $77,656±$9k 25% below MA |
$103,375±$10kHighest about the MA average |
$63,500±$14kLowest 39% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $271,800±$20kLowest 52% below MA |
$375,800±$31kHighest 33% below MA |
$309,000±$47k 45% below MA |
| Northfield and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,163±$213 34% below MA |
$1,142±$200Lowest 35% below MA |
$1,292±$558Highest 27% below MA |
| Plainfield and Erving are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,870Lowest 69% below MA |
$4,594Highest 23% below MA |
$4,458 26% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.5%±23 MA: 51.8% |
49.2%±25.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
40%±100Lowest 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 | 5.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
6.8% MA: 10% |
16.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.1% MA: 62.5% |
98%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
1962 2 yrs older than MA |
1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 4% below MA |
31 min 8% above MA |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
| Work from home | 3.6%±2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16.5%±10.3 MA: 18.6% |
26.2%±8.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Plainfield 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 | — | #231 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Erving | Pioneer Valley | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Pioneer Valley Regional | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7 |
— |
| 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.