Compare towns
Northfield vs Bourne vs Erving
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Northfield has the highest household income ($103k).
Bourne has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.5%).
Erving has the most affordable homes ($272k 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 | Northfield | Bourne | Erving |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,872 |
20,323Highest |
1,703Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5% MA: +7.4% |
+3.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-7.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.9±4.2 22% above MA |
52±1.8Highest 30% above MA |
43.3±2.4Lowest 8% above MA |
| Bourne and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.8%±4.1 MA: 19.4% |
14.7%±2.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
16.3%±3.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Erving and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.5%±5.1 MA: 17.9% |
29.8%±3.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
22.6%±2.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bourne and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.4% MA: 47.3% |
46%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±3 MA: 7.9% |
6.6%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.8%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Bourne and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $103,375±$10kHighest about the MA average |
$91,058±$7k 12% below MA |
$77,656±$9kLowest 25% below MA |
| Northfield and Bourne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $375,800±$31k 33% below MA |
$575,600±$28kHighest about the MA average |
$271,800±$20kLowest 52% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,142±$200Lowest 35% below MA |
$1,379±$300Highest 22% below MA |
$1,163±$213 34% below MA |
| Bourne and Erving are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,594Highest 23% below MA |
$4,485 25% below MA |
$1,870Lowest 69% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.2%±25.9 MA: 51.8% |
62.8%±5.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
46.5%±23Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Bourne and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.8%Highest MA: 10% |
6.2% MA: 10% |
5.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
75.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
81.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962 2 yrs older than MA |
1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 8% above MA |
26 minLowest 11% below MA |
28 min 4% below MA |
| Work from home | 16.5%±10.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
14.9%±3.1 MA: 18.6% |
3.6%±2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Northfield and Bourne 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 | #206 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Pioneer Valley | Bourne · Upper Cape Cod Regional Vocational Technical | Erving |
| High school in town | Pioneer Valley Regional | Upper Cape Cod Vocational Technical | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Highest |
9.8Lowest |
— |
| 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.