Compare towns
Northfield vs Lee vs Otis
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 youngest population (median age 48.9).
Lee has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Otis has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.4%).
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 | Lee | Otis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,872 |
5,719Highest |
1,624Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
-2.6% MA: +7.4% |
+1.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.9±4.2Lowest 22% above MA |
55.2±5.8Highest 38% above MA |
51±3.2 28% above MA |
| Lee and Otis 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% |
12.6%±5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
15.1%±4.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Otis and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.5%±5.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
33.4%±6.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
28%±3.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Lee and Otis 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% |
44.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
39.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±3 MA: 7.9% |
5%±2.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Lee 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 about the MA average |
$83,750±$13kLowest 19% below MA |
$108,898±$6kHighest 5% above MA |
| 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 33% below MA |
$352,700±$19kLowest 37% below MA |
$396,700±$40kHighest 29% below MA |
| 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 35% below MA |
$1,375±$212Highest 22% below MA |
$1,318±$924 25% below MA |
| Lee and Otis 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 |
$3,980 34% below MA |
$2,408Lowest 60% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.2%±25.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.3%±21.2 MA: 51.8% |
63.3%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Otis and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.8% MA: 10% |
7.2%Highest MA: 10% |
1.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.1% MA: 62.5% |
71.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962 2 yrs older than MA |
1959Lowest 5 yrs older than MA |
1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 8% above MA |
18 minLowest 38% below MA |
34 minHighest 15% above MA |
| Work from home | 16.5%±10.3 MA: 18.6% |
16.4%±7.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.3%±7.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
| 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 | #209 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Pioneer Valley | Lee | Farmington River Reg |
| High school in town | Pioneer Valley Regional | Lee Middle/High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Highest |
9.2Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 20 photos → | 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.