Compare towns
Northfield vs Hermon vs Otis
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Northfield has the oldest housing (typical home built 1962).
Hermon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+19.3%).
Otis has the most people working from home (22.3%).
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 | Hermon | Otis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,872 |
6,727Highest |
1,624Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+19.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.9±4.2 26% above U.S. |
41.1±4.7Lowest 6% above U.S. |
51±3.2Highest 31% above U.S. |
| Otis 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 U.S.: 22% |
21.6%±4.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.1%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Hermon and Otis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.5%±5.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
28%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Otis 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hermon 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±$10k 28% above U.S. |
$96,629±$22kLowest 20% above U.S. |
$108,898±$6kHighest 35% above U.S. |
| Otis and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $375,800±$31k 13% above U.S. |
$333,600±$32kLowest about the U.S. average |
$396,700±$40kHighest 19% above U.S. |
| Otis and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,142±$200Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,406±$202Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,318±$924 7% below U.S. |
| Hermon and Otis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,594Highest 47% above U.S. |
$2,761 11% below U.S. |
$2,408Lowest 23% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.2%±25.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
28.2%±19.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Otis 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S. |
2000Highest 20 yrs newer than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 19% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.5%±10.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.8%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Otis 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 | #54 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Pioneer Valley | Hermon Public Schools | Farmington River Reg |
| High school in town | Pioneer Valley Regional | Hermon High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Lowest |
14.6Highest |
— |
| 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.