What stands out worked out from the figures below

Greenfield has the most expensive homes ($263k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Greenfield	North Adams
People
Population	17,664Highest	12,606Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	-5.4% MA: +7.4%
Median age	44.6±2.1Highest 12% above MA	44.1±3.5Lowest 10% above MA
	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%±1.9Highest MA: 19.4%	15.7%±2.9Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Greenfield and North Adams 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%	21.6%±2.6Lowest MA: 17.9%
	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 MA: 47.3%	28.4%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.7%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9%	9.8%±2Highest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$55,614±$7kHighest 47% below MA	$47,500±$7kLowest 54% below MA
	Greenfield and North Adams are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$263,100±$16kHighest 53% below MA	$195,900±$14kLowest 65% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,107±$67Highest 37% below MA	$793±$113Lowest 55% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,769Highest 20% below MA	$3,078Lowest 49% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	63.2%±7.3Lowest 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%Lowest MA: 10%	18.6%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	55.7%Highest MA: 62.5%	51%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1947Highest 17 yrs older than MA	1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	17 min 40% below MA	17 min 40% below MA
Work from home	11.9%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6%	9.2%±3.5Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Greenfield and North Adams 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	North Adams · Northern Berkshire Regional Vocational Technical
High school in town	Greenfield High	Charles McCann Vocational Technical
Students per teacherat that high school	10.9Highest	10.6Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.