Compare towns
Greenfield vs Mapleton vs North Adams
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 most expensive homes ($263k median).
Mapleton has the highest household income ($92k).
North Adams has the most renters (49% rent).
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 | Mapleton | North Adams |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,664Highest |
1,884Lowest |
12,606 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -3.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±2.1Highest 15% above U.S. |
41.8±6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
44.1±3.5 13% above U.S. |
| Greenfield and North Adams are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.3%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Mapleton and Greenfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.4%±2.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Greenfield and North Adams 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% |
34.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
9.8%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| North Adams and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $55,614±$7k 31% below U.S. |
$91,731±$25kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$47,500±$7kLowest 41% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $263,100±$16kHighest 21% below U.S. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$195,900±$14k 41% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,107±$67Highest 22% below U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$793±$113 44% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,769Highest 53% above U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$3,078 about the U.S. average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.2%±7.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
63.7%±11Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
18.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
51%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1947 33 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 34% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
17 minLowest 34% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.9%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.2%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Greenfield and Mapleton 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 | — | #268 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Greenfield | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | North Adams · Northern Berkshire Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | Greenfield High | None in town | Charles McCann Vocational Technical |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.9Highest |
— | 10.6Lowest |
| 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.