Compare towns
Northfield vs Ogunquit vs Sheffield vs Windham
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 most affordable homes ($376k median).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Sheffield has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Windham has the most kids (19.2% under 18).
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 | Ogunquit | Sheffield | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,872 |
1,379Lowest |
3,330 |
19,188Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.9±4.2 26% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
48.2±8 24% above U.S. |
41.8±1.8Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 14.8%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
13.3%±4 U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Windham and Northfield 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% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.2%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±4.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Northfield and Ogunquit 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. |
$114,259±$56kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$92,120±$31kLowest 14% above U.S. |
$107,934±$14k 34% above U.S. |
| Ogunquit and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $375,800±$31kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$409,400±$32k 23% above U.S. |
$388,900±$22k 17% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,142±$200Lowest 19% below U.S. |
— | $1,837±$1kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$1,232±$332 13% below U.S. |
| Sheffield and Windham 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. |
$4,473 43% above U.S. |
$4,520 45% above U.S. |
$3,938Lowest 26% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.2%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
29.2%±21.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
32.7%±14.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Northfield and Windham 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% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 19% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
21 minLowest 22% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 16.5%±10.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.5%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #231 of 282 in MA | — | #250 of 282 in MA | #95 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Pioneer Valley | — | Southern Berkshire | RSU 14 |
| High school in town | Pioneer Valley Regional | — | Mt Everett Regional | Windham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7 |
— | 7.8Lowest |
12.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.