Compare towns
Northfield vs Lancaster 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 oldest population (median age 48.9).
Lancaster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).
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 | Lancaster | Erving |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,872 |
8,606Highest |
1,703Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5% MA: +7.4% |
+4.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-7.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.9±4.2Highest 22% above MA |
43.1±4.9Lowest 8% above MA |
43.3±2.4 8% above MA |
| Northfield and Erving 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% |
19.2%±4Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.3%±3.2 MA: 19.4% |
| Lancaster and Erving 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% |
19.9%±4.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.6%±2.4 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% |
50.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±3Highest MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
2.8%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Northfield and Lancaster 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 |
$134,833±$27kHighest 30% above MA |
$77,656±$9kLowest 25% below MA |
| Lancaster 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 33% below MA |
$519,100±$60kHighest 8% below MA |
$271,800±$20kLowest 52% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,142±$200Lowest 35% below MA |
$2,338±$539Highest 33% above MA |
$1,163±$213 34% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,594 23% below MA |
$7,235Highest 21% above MA |
$1,870Lowest 69% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.2%±25.9 MA: 51.8% |
68.3%±36.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
46.5%±23Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Lancaster 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% |
1.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.2% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
85.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
81.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962 2 yrs older than MA |
1971Highest 7 yrs newer than MA |
1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 8% above MA |
32 minHighest 9% above MA |
28 minLowest 4% below MA |
| Work from home | 16.5%±10.3 MA: 18.6% |
33.6%±9.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
3.6%±2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Lancaster 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 | #145 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Pioneer Valley | Nashoba | Erving |
| High school in town | Pioneer Valley Regional | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7 |
— | — |
| 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.