Compare towns
Northfield vs Smithfield vs Oakham
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%).
Smithfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).
Oakham has the most kids (18.2% 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 | Smithfield | Oakham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,872 |
22,233Highest |
1,639Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.9±4.2 26% above U.S. |
41.8±2.6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
49±2.3Highest 26% above U.S. |
| Oakham and Northfield 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% |
16.9%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Oakham and Smithfield 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% |
21.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Northfield and Oakham 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% |
40%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±3 U.S.: 6.4% |
16.7%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $103,375±$10kHighest 28% above U.S. |
$102,077±$8k 26% above U.S. |
$102,000±$20kLowest 26% above U.S. |
| Northfield and Smithfield 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. |
$446,400±$12kHighest 34% above U.S. |
$420,100±$20k 26% above U.S. |
| Smithfield and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,142±$200 19% below U.S. |
$1,016±$241Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,174±$81Highest 17% below U.S. |
| Oakham and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,594 47% above U.S. |
$5,207Highest 67% above U.S. |
$4,103Lowest 32% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.2%±25.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±17.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
27.8%±69.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Smithfield 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 19% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 7% below U.S. |
39 minHighest 46% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.5%±10.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.6%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Northfield and Smithfield 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 | #8 of 38 in RI | — |
| School district | Pioneer Valley | Smithfield | Quabbin |
| High school in town | Pioneer Valley Regional | Smithfield High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Lowest |
11.8Highest |
— |
| 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.