Compare towns
Greenfield vs Marblehead vs West Springfield Town
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Greenfield has the most affordable homes ($263k median).
Marblehead has the most expensive homes ($944k median).
West Springfield Town has the youngest population (median age 40.1).
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 | Marblehead | West Springfield Town |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,664Lowest |
20,413 |
28,772Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +3.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±2.1 12% above MA |
49.1±2Highest 23% above MA |
40.1±2.6Lowest about the MA average |
| Kids under 18 | 18.3%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.3%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.9%±2.3 MA: 19.4% |
| Marblehead and West Springfield Town are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.4%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
17.5%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Greenfield and Marblehead 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% |
78.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
34%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1 MA: 7.9% |
5.7%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
| West Springfield Town and Marblehead 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 47% below MA |
$182,132±$28kHighest 75% above MA |
$69,371±$7k 33% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $263,100±$16kLowest 53% below MA |
$943,900±$31kHighest 68% above MA |
$321,500±$16k 43% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,107±$67Lowest 37% below MA |
$1,764±$147Highest about the MA average |
$1,144±$68 35% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,769 20% below MA |
$8,309Highest 39% above MA |
$4,380Lowest 27% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.2%±7.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
49.5%±8.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
60.1%±9.1 MA: 51.8% |
| 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 MA: 10% |
4.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
11.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
58.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1947 17 yrs older than MA |
1944Lowest 20 yrs older than MA |
1958Highest 6 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 40% below MA |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
19 min 34% below MA |
| Work from home | 11.9%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
34%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.4%±2.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #257 of 282 in MA | #47 of 282 in MA | #218 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Greenfield | Marblehead | West Springfield |
| High school in town | Greenfield High | Marblehead High | West Springfield High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.9 |
10.7Lowest |
13.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
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.