Compare towns
Greenfield vs Needham vs Deerfield
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).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Deerfield has the oldest population (median age 51.8).
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 | Needham | Deerfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,664 |
32,459Highest |
5,158Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-0.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±2.1 12% above MA |
43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA |
51.8±3.6Highest 30% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 18.3%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.2%±3.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 23.4%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.9%±4.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Greenfield and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
44.4% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
7.9%±3.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Deerfield and Needham 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 |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$106,136±$14k about the MA average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $263,100±$16kLowest 53% below MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$414,900±$37k 26% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,107±$67Lowest 37% below MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,334±$318 24% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,769Lowest 20% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$5,824 about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.2%±7.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
26.1%±15.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Greenfield and Needham 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% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
78.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1947Lowest 17 yrs older than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1972Highest 8 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 40% below MA |
28 minHighest 5% below MA |
18 min 40% below MA |
| Work from home | 11.9%±2.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
17.5%±6.2 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #257 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #156 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Greenfield | — | Deerfield · Frontier |
| High school in town | Greenfield High | — | Frontier Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.9Lowest |
— | 11.1Highest |
| 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.