Compare towns

Greenfield vs Hingham vs North Adams

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hingham has the most expensive homes ($1134k median).
North Adams has the most affordable homes ($196k 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.

MeasureGreenfieldHinghamNorth Adams
People
Population
17,664
24,283Highest
12,606Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+9.6%Highest
MA: +7.4%
-5.4%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
44.6±2.1
12% above MA
48.4±2.4Highest
21% above MA
44.1±3.5Lowest
10% above MA
Hingham and Greenfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
18.3%±1.9
MA: 19.4%
23.4%±2.1Highest
MA: 19.4%
15.7%±2.9Lowest
MA: 19.4%
Age 65+
23.4%±2.2
MA: 17.9%
26%±2.6Highest
MA: 17.9%
21.6%±2.6Lowest
MA: 17.9%
Hingham 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%
MA: 47.3%
76.2%Highest
MA: 47.3%
28.4%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.7%±0.9
MA: 7.9%
2.9%±0.9Lowest
MA: 7.9%
9.8%±2Highest
MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$55,614±$7k
47% below MA
$178,390±$15kHighest
72% above MA
$47,500±$7kLowest
54% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$263,100±$16k
53% below MA
$1,134,200±$47kHighest
102% above MA
$195,900±$14kLowest
65% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,107±$67
37% below MA
$2,465±$603Highest
40% above MA
$793±$113Lowest
55% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,769
20% below MA
$10,000+Highest
at least 67% above MA
$3,078Lowest
49% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
63.2%±7.3
MA: 51.8%
60.3%±12Lowest
MA: 51.8%
63.7%±11Highest
MA: 51.8%
North Adams and Greenfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
15.2%
MA: 10%
4.3%Lowest
MA: 10%
18.6%Highest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
55.7%
MA: 62.5%
80.7%Highest
MA: 62.5%
51%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1947
17 yrs older than MA
1976Highest
12 yrs newer than MA
1938Lowest
26 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
17 minLowest
40% below MA
36 minHighest
24% above MA
17 minLowest
40% below MA
Work from home
11.9%±2.4
MA: 18.6%
33.1%±3.3Highest
MA: 18.6%
9.2%±3.5Lowest
MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #257 of 282 in MA #14 of 282 in MA #268 of 282 in MA
School district Greenfield Hingham North Adams · Northern Berkshire Regional Vocational Technical
High school in town Greenfield High Hingham High Charles McCann Vocational Technical
Students per teacherat that high school
10.9
12.9Highest
10.6Lowest
On TownTapestry
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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.