Compare towns
Northfield vs Georgetown vs Erving vs Oakham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Georgetown has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.5%).
Erving has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Oakham has the most homeowners (91.6%).
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 | Georgetown | Erving | Oakham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,872 |
8,474Highest |
1,703 |
1,639Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5% MA: +7.4% |
+3.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-7.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
-2.7% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.9±4.2 22% above MA |
42.8±3.5Lowest 7% above MA |
43.3±2.4 8% above MA |
49±2.3Highest 23% above MA |
| Oakham and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.8%±4.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.5%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.3%±3.2 MA: 19.4% |
18.2%±3.1 MA: 19.4% |
| Georgetown and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 25.5%±5.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.5%±2.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.6%±2.4 MA: 17.9% |
21.4%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
| Northfield and Erving 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% |
56.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
40.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±3Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
2.8%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Northfield and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $103,375±$10k about the MA average |
$151,595±$23kHighest 46% above MA |
$77,656±$9kLowest 25% below MA |
$102,000±$20k about the MA average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $375,800±$31k 33% below MA |
$651,200±$23kHighest 16% above MA |
$271,800±$20kLowest 52% below MA |
$420,100±$20k 25% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,142±$200Lowest 35% below MA |
$2,223±$506Highest 26% above MA |
$1,163±$213 34% below MA |
$1,174±$81 33% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,594 23% below MA |
$7,272Highest 21% above MA |
$1,870Lowest 69% below MA |
$4,103 32% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.2%±25.9 MA: 51.8% |
53.7%±22.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
46.5%±23 MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±69.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Georgetown 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% |
3.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.2% MA: 10% |
4.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.1% MA: 62.5% |
84% MA: 62.5% |
81.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
91.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962 2 yrs older than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 8% above MA |
34 min 15% above MA |
28 minLowest 4% below MA |
39 minHighest 32% above MA |
| Work from home | 16.5%±10.3 MA: 18.6% |
20.2%±3.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
3.6%±2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
9.6%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Georgetown 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 | #140 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | Pioneer Valley | Georgetown | Erving | Quabbin |
| High school in town | Pioneer Valley Regional | Georgetown High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Highest |
9.3Lowest |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.