What stands out worked out from the figures below

Newfields has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.3%).

Northfield has the most affordable homes ($376k 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	Newfields	Northfield
People
Population	2,023Lowest	2,872Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	44.1±1.8Lowest 13% above U.S.	48.9±4.2Highest 26% above U.S.
	Northfield and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 22%	14.8%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Newfields and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	25.5%±5.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	68.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	42.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	7.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%	4.4%±3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Newfields and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S.	$103,375±$10kLowest 28% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$646,400±$34kHighest 94% above U.S.	$375,800±$31kLowest 13% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,875±$323Highest 33% above U.S.	$1,142±$200Lowest 19% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S.	$4,594Lowest 47% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	43.3%±40.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	49.2%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Northfield and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	6.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	85.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S.	1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minLowest about the U.S. average	31 minHighest 19% above U.S.
Work from home	25.5%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%	16.5%±10.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Newfields and Northfield 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	—	#231 of 282 in MA
School district	Newfields School District	Pioneer Valley
High school in town	None in town	Pioneer Valley Regional
Students per teacherat that high school	—	10.7
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.