Compare towns
Gill vs Orange vs Northfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Gill has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.4%).
Orange has the most affordable homes ($246k median).
Northfield has the highest household income ($103k).
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 | Orange | Northfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,740Lowest |
7,573Highest |
2,872 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-3.4% MA: +7.4% |
-5.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±2.6 9% above MA |
41.8±2.2Lowest 4% above MA |
48.9±4.2Highest 22% above MA |
| Northfield and Gill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19%±8.7 MA: 19.4% |
22.2%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
14.8%±4.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Orange and Gill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.1%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
20.3%±3.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
25.5%±5.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Northfield and Gill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.3% MA: 47.3% |
15.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
42.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.1%±2.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
2%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±3 MA: 7.9% |
| 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±$14k 13% below MA |
$55,824±$10kLowest 46% below MA |
$103,375±$10kHighest about the MA average |
| Northfield and Gill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $340,100±$17k 39% below MA |
$245,900±$18kLowest 56% below MA |
$375,800±$31kHighest 33% below MA |
| Northfield and Gill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,193±$246Highest 32% below MA |
$775±$233Lowest 56% below MA |
$1,142±$200 35% below MA |
| Gill and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,318 28% below MA |
$4,136Lowest 31% below MA |
$4,594Highest 23% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.7%±10.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
41%±11.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
49.2%±25.9 MA: 51.8% |
| 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%Lowest MA: 10% |
22.4%Highest MA: 10% |
6.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.3% MA: 62.5% |
70%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA |
1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 29% below MA |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
31 min 8% above MA |
| Work from home | 14.9%±8 MA: 18.6% |
6.6%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16.5%±10.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Northfield and Gill 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 | — | #275 of 282 in MA | #231 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Gill-Montague | Orange · Ralph C Mahar | Pioneer Valley |
| High school in town | None in town | Ralph C Mahar Regional | Pioneer Valley Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.0Lowest |
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.