Compare towns
Greenfield vs Berlin vs West Springfield Town
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Greenfield has the shortest commute (17 min average).
Berlin has the most homeowners (87.9%).
West Springfield Town has the most expensive homes ($322k 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 | Greenfield | Berlin | West Springfield Town |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,664 |
2,880Lowest |
28,772Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -1.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±2.1 15% above U.S. |
50.6±2.4Highest 30% above U.S. |
40.1±2.6Lowest 3% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18.3%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
16.6%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±2.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| West Springfield Town and Greenfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.4%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.8%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.5%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Berlin and Greenfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| West Springfield Town and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $55,614±$7kLowest 31% below U.S. |
$86,691±$21kHighest 7% above U.S. |
$69,371±$7k 14% below U.S. |
| Berlin and West Springfield Town are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $263,100±$16kLowest 21% below U.S. |
$273,600±$31k 18% below U.S. |
$321,500±$16kHighest 3% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,107±$67Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,169±$171Highest 17% below U.S. |
$1,144±$68 19% below U.S. |
| Berlin and West Springfield Town are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,769Highest 53% above U.S. |
$4,418 42% above U.S. |
$4,380Lowest 40% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.2%±7.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41%±19.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
60.1%±9.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Greenfield and West Springfield Town are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 15.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
58.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1947Lowest 33 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1958 22 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 34% below U.S. |
21 minHighest 20% below U.S. |
19 min 27% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.9%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.7%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.4%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Greenfield and Berlin 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 | #257 of 282 in MA | #16 of 70 in VT | #218 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Greenfield | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | West Springfield |
| High school in town | Greenfield High | None in town | West Springfield High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.9Lowest |
— | 13.1Highest |
| 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.