What stands out worked out from the figures below

Northfield has the most people working from home (16.5%).

Union has the most kids (16.9% 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Northfield	Union
People
Population	2,872Highest	944Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-5.5% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	48.9±4.2Lowest 26% above U.S.	49.9±4.3Highest 28% above U.S.
	Union 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%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22%
	Union and Northfield 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%	24.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Northfield and Union 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%	24%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.4%±3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Union 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±$10kHighest 28% above U.S.	$88,958±$14kLowest 10% above U.S.
	Northfield and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$375,800±$31kHighest 13% above U.S.	$330,400±$26kLowest about the U.S. average
	Northfield and Union 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.	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,594Lowest 47% above U.S.	$4,793Highest 54% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	49.2%±25.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	90%±64.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Union 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%	5.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S.	1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minLowest 19% above U.S.	32 minHighest 20% above U.S.
Work from home	16.5%±10.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%	9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Northfield and Union 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	—
School district	Pioneer Valley	Union School District
High school in town	Pioneer Valley Regional	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	10.7	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.