Compare towns
Gill vs Webster 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.4%).
Webster has the most kids (22.6% under 18).
Northfield has the most expensive homes ($376k median).
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 | Webster | Northfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,740Lowest |
2,227 |
2,872Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±2.6Lowest 13% above U.S. |
44.7±7.6 15% above U.S. |
48.9±4.2Highest 26% above U.S. |
| Northfield and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19%±8.7 U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±8Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.8%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Webster 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±1.3Lowest 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% |
30.7%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%±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±$14kLowest 12% above U.S. |
$107,171±$14kHighest 33% above U.S. |
$103,375±$10k 28% above U.S. |
| Webster 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±$17k about the U.S. average |
$338,500±$30kLowest about the U.S. average |
$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±$246 16% below U.S. |
$1,396±$622Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,142±$200Lowest 19% below U.S. |
| Webster 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. |
$6,021Highest 93% above U.S. |
$4,594 47% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.7%±10.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.6%±71 U.S.: 51.1% |
49.2%±25.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Gill and Webster 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% |
9.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 19% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.9%±8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.1%±3.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.5%±10.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Webster 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 | Gill-Montague | Merrimack Valley School District | Pioneer Valley |
| High school in town | None 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 |
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.