Compare towns
Gill vs Ogunquit vs Northfield vs Sheffield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Gill has the most kids (19% under 18).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Northfield has the oldest housing (typical home built 1962).
Sheffield has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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 | Gill | Ogunquit | Northfield | Sheffield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,740 |
1,379Lowest |
2,872 |
3,330Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±2.6Lowest 13% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
48.9±4.2 26% above U.S. |
48.2±8 24% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19%±8.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
14.8%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
13.3%±4 U.S.: 22% |
| Gill and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.1%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±5.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.2%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.1%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Gill and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $90,208±$14kLowest 12% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$103,375±$10k 28% above U.S. |
$92,120±$31k 14% above U.S. |
| Ogunquit and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $340,100±$17kLowest about the U.S. average |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$375,800±$31k 13% above U.S. |
$409,400±$32k 23% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,193±$246 16% below U.S. |
— | $1,142±$200Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,837±$1kHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Sheffield and Gill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,318Lowest 38% above U.S. |
$4,473 43% above U.S. |
$4,594Highest 47% above U.S. |
$4,520 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.7%±10.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.2%±25.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
29.2%±21.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Gill and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 21% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
31 minHighest 19% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 22% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.9%±8 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.5%±10.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.5%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #231 of 282 in MA | #250 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Gill-Montague | — | Pioneer Valley | Southern Berkshire |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Pioneer Valley Regional | Mt Everett Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.7Highest |
7.8Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.