Compare towns
Northfield vs Needham vs Erving vs Sheffield
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 most homeowners (85.1%).
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Erving has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Sheffield has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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 | Needham | Erving | Sheffield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,872 |
32,459Highest |
1,703Lowest |
3,330 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5% MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-7.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.9±4.2Highest 22% above MA |
43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA |
43.3±2.4 8% above MA |
48.2±8 21% above MA |
| Northfield and Sheffield 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% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.3%±3.2 MA: 19.4% |
13.3%±4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 25.5%±5.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.6%±2.4 MA: 17.9% |
23.2%±5.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Northfield and Sheffield 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% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
37.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±3 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.8%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±4.5 MA: 7.9% |
| Needham 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 |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$77,656±$9kLowest 25% below MA |
$92,120±$31k 11% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $375,800±$31k 33% below MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$271,800±$20kLowest 52% below MA |
$409,400±$32k 27% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,142±$200Lowest 35% below MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,163±$213 34% below MA |
$1,837±$1k 4% above MA |
| Needham and Sheffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,594 23% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$1,870Lowest 69% below MA |
$4,520 25% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.2%±25.9 MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
46.5%±23 MA: 51.8% |
29.2%±21.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Needham 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% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.2% MA: 10% |
6.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.1% MA: 62.5% |
81.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
82.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962 2 yrs older than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 8% above MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
28 min 4% below MA |
21 minLowest 29% below MA |
| Work from home | 16.5%±10.3 MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
3.6%±2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
8.5%±5.2 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #231 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | — | #250 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Pioneer Valley | — | Erving | Southern Berkshire |
| High school in town | Pioneer Valley Regional | — | None in town | Mt Everett Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Highest |
— | — | 7.8Lowest |
| 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.