Compare towns
Gill vs Putnam vs Northfield
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 shortest commute (21 min average).
Putnam has the most renters (40.2% rent).
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 | Putnam | Northfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,740Lowest |
9,292Highest |
2,872 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±2.6 13% above U.S. |
43.7±3Lowest 12% above U.S. |
48.9±4.2Highest 26% above U.S. |
| Northfield and Gill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19%±8.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
14.8%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Gill and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.1%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±5.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.1%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±3 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±$14k 12% above U.S. |
$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$103,375±$10kHighest 28% above U.S. |
| 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 about the U.S. average |
$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$375,800±$31kHighest 13% above U.S. |
| 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 16% below U.S. |
$1,149±$44 19% below U.S. |
$1,142±$200Lowest 19% below U.S. |
| Gill and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,318 38% above U.S. |
$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S. |
$4,594Highest 47% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.7%±10.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.2%±25.9 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Highest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 19% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.9%±8 U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.5%±10.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | — | #128 of 149 in CT | #231 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Gill-Montague | Putnam School District | Pioneer Valley |
| High school in town | None in town | Putnam High School | Pioneer Valley Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.5Lowest |
10.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.