Compare towns
Northfield vs Upton vs Otis vs Erving
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Upton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).
Otis has the oldest population (median age 51).
Erving has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
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 | Upton | Otis | Erving |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,872 |
8,189Highest |
1,624Lowest |
1,703 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5% MA: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1.4% MA: +7.4% |
-7.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.9±4.2 22% above MA |
46.4±4.8 16% above MA |
51±3.2Highest 28% above MA |
43.3±2.4Lowest 8% above MA |
| Otis 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 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.1%±4.8 MA: 19.4% |
16.3%±3.2 MA: 19.4% |
| Upton and Erving are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 25.5%±5.1 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
28%±3.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
22.6%±2.4 MA: 17.9% |
| Otis and Northfield 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% |
53.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
39.2% MA: 47.3% |
24.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±3Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
2.8%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Northfield and Otis 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 |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$108,898±$6k 5% above MA |
$77,656±$9kLowest 25% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $375,800±$31k 33% below MA |
$576,700±$41kHighest about the MA average |
$396,700±$40k 29% below MA |
$271,800±$20kLowest 52% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,142±$200 35% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,318±$924Highest 25% below MA |
$1,163±$213 34% below MA |
| Otis and Erving 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 |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$2,408 60% below MA |
$1,870Lowest 69% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.2%±25.9 MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
63.3%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
46.5%±23Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Otis and Upton 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% |
3.2% MA: 10% |
1.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.2% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.1% MA: 62.5% |
86.7% MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
81.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962 2 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 8% above MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
34 min 15% above MA |
28 minLowest 4% below MA |
| Work from home | 16.5%±10.3 MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.3%±7.7 MA: 18.6% |
3.6%±2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Upton and Otis 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 | #46 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | Pioneer Valley | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Farmington River Reg | Erving |
| High school in town | Pioneer Valley Regional | Blackstone Valley | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Lowest |
11.2Highest |
— | — |
| 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.