Compare towns

Northfield vs Warner vs Erving vs Otis

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Warner has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.7%).
Erving has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Otis has the most people working from home (22.3%).

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.

MeasureNorthfieldWarnerErvingOtis
People
Population
2,872
2,959Highest
1,703
1,624Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-5.5%
U.S.: +7.4%
+3.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-7.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+1.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
48.9±4.2
26% above U.S.
43.7±4
12% above U.S.
43.3±2.4Lowest
11% above U.S.
51±3.2Highest
31% above U.S.
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
U.S.: 22%
17.3%±3.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
16.3%±3.2
U.S.: 22%
15.1%±4.8
U.S.: 22%
Warner 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
U.S.: 17.2%
20.4%±3.5Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
22.6%±2.4
U.S.: 17.2%
28%±3.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
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%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
42.4%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
24.1%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
39.2%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.4%±3
U.S.: 6.4%
5.3%±1.6Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.8%±1.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.9%±2.1
U.S.: 6.4%
Warner 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±$10k
28% above U.S.
$94,022±$18k
16% above U.S.
$77,656±$9kLowest
4% below U.S.
$108,898±$6kHighest
35% above U.S.
Otis and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$375,800±$31k
13% above U.S.
$353,100±$22k
6% above U.S.
$271,800±$20kLowest
18% below U.S.
$396,700±$40kHighest
19% above U.S.
Otis and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,142±$200Lowest
19% below U.S.
$1,219±$123
14% below U.S.
$1,163±$213
18% below U.S.
$1,318±$924Highest
7% below U.S.
Otis and Warner 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.
$7,650Highest
145% above U.S.
$1,870Lowest
40% below U.S.
$2,408
23% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
49.2%±25.9
U.S.: 51.1%
48.7%±21.3
U.S.: 51.1%
46.5%±23Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
63.3%±100Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Otis and Northfield 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%
8.4%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
5.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
1.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
85.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
74.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
81.5%
U.S.: 65.2%
89.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1962
18 yrs older than U.S.
1975Highest
5 yrs older than U.S.
1957Lowest
23 yrs older than U.S.
1974
6 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
31 min
19% above U.S.
32 min
20% above U.S.
28 minLowest
6% above U.S.
34 minHighest
27% above U.S.
Work from home
16.5%±10.3
U.S.: 15.1%
16.6%±4.8
U.S.: 15.1%
3.6%±2Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
22.3%±7.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Otis and Warner 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 Kearsarge Regional School District Erving Farmington River Reg
High school in town Pioneer Valley Regional None in town None in town None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
10.7
— — —
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.