Compare towns
Northfield vs Putnam vs Erving
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 people working from home (16.5%).
Putnam has the most renters (40.2% rent).
Erving has the youngest population (median age 43.3).
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 | Putnam | Erving |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,872 |
9,292Highest |
1,703Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -7.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.9±4.2Highest 26% above U.S. |
43.7±3 12% above U.S. |
43.3±2.4Lowest 11% above U.S. |
| Northfield and Putnam 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% |
18.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Putnam 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
24.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Northfield and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $103,375±$10kHighest 28% above U.S. |
$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$77,656±$9k 4% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $375,800±$31kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$271,800±$20k 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,142±$200Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,149±$44 19% below U.S. |
$1,163±$213Highest 18% below U.S. |
| Erving and Putnam 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. |
$3,860 24% above U.S. |
$1,870Lowest 40% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.2%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.5%±23 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Northfield and Erving are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962Highest 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1957Lowest 23 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 19% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.5%±10.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
3.6%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Northfield and Putnam 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 | #128 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | Pioneer Valley | Putnam School District | Erving |
| High school in town | Pioneer Valley Regional | Putnam High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Highest |
9.5Lowest |
— |
| 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.