Compare towns

Greenfield vs Stoneham 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

Greenfield has the oldest population (median age 44.6).
Stoneham has the most expensive homes ($672k 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.

MeasureGreenfieldStonehamNorth Adams
People
Population
17,664
23,355Highest
12,606Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+8.4%Highest
MA: +7.4%
-5.4%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
44.6±2.1Highest
12% above MA
42.2±2.2Lowest
6% above MA
44.1±3.5
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%±1.9
MA: 19.4%
20.8%±2.5Highest
MA: 19.4%
15.7%±2.9Lowest
MA: 19.4%
Stoneham 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
MA: 17.9%
20.4%±2.2Lowest
MA: 17.9%
21.6%±2.6
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%
MA: 47.3%
55.9%Highest
MA: 47.3%
28.4%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.7%±0.9Lowest
MA: 7.9%
4.7%±1.4
MA: 7.9%
9.8%±2Highest
MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$55,614±$7k
47% below MA
$113,964±$10kHighest
10% above MA
$47,500±$7kLowest
54% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$263,100±$16k
53% below MA
$671,900±$26kHighest
20% above MA
$195,900±$14kLowest
65% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,107±$67
37% below MA
$2,035±$142Highest
15% above MA
$793±$113Lowest
55% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,769
20% below MA
$6,523Highest
9% above MA
$3,078Lowest
49% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
63.2%±7.3
MA: 51.8%
41.9%±8.2Lowest
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%
5.4%Lowest
MA: 10%
18.6%Highest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
55.7%
MA: 62.5%
71%Highest
MA: 62.5%
51%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1947
17 yrs older than MA
1964Highest
same as MA
1938Lowest
26 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
17 minLowest
40% below MA
28 minHighest
4% below MA
17 minLowest
40% below MA
Work from home
11.9%±2.4
MA: 18.6%
24.6%±3.6Highest
MA: 18.6%
9.2%±3.5Lowest
MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #257 of 282 in MA #117 of 282 in MA #268 of 282 in MA
School district Greenfield Stoneham North Adams · Northern Berkshire Regional Vocational Technical
High school in town Greenfield High Stoneham High Charles McCann Vocational Technical
Students per teacherat that high school
10.9Highest
10.7
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.