Compare towns
Greenfield vs Thompson 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 kids (18.3% under 18).
Thompson has the highest household income ($94k).
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.
| Measure | Greenfield | Thompson | North Adams |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,664Highest |
9,337Lowest |
12,606 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | -5.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±2.1 15% above U.S. |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
44.1±3.5Lowest 13% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18.3%±1.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
| 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%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Thompson and Greenfield 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% |
21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
9.8%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $55,614±$7k 31% below U.S. |
$93,629±$18kHighest 16% above U.S. |
$47,500±$7kLowest 41% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $263,100±$16k 21% below U.S. |
$291,900±$24kHighest 12% below U.S. |
$195,900±$14kLowest 41% below U.S. |
| Thompson and Greenfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,107±$67Highest 22% below U.S. |
$1,012±$344 28% below U.S. |
$793±$113Lowest 44% below U.S. |
| Greenfield and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,769Highest 53% above U.S. |
$3,822 23% above U.S. |
$3,078Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.2%±7.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±18.7Lowest 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% |
5.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
18.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
51%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1947 33 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Highest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 34% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
17 minLowest 34% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.9%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.2%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Thompson and Greenfield 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 | #130 of 149 in CT | #268 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Greenfield | Thompson School District | North Adams · Northern Berkshire Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | Greenfield High | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | Charles McCann Vocational Technical |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.9Highest |
7.9Lowest |
10.6 |
| 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.