Compare towns
Northfield vs Warner vs Erving vs Sheffield
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 highest household income ($103k).
Warner has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.7%).
Erving has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Sheffield has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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 | Warner | Erving | Sheffield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,872 |
2,959 |
1,703Lowest |
3,330Highest |
| 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% |
+2.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.9±4.2Highest 26% above U.S. |
43.7±4 12% above U.S. |
43.3±2.4Lowest 11% above U.S. |
48.2±8 24% above U.S. |
| Northfield and Sheffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.8%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
17.3%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
13.3%±4Lowest 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%±5.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.2%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Northfield and Sheffield 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% |
37.5% 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% |
4.2%±4.5 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±$10kHighest 28% above U.S. |
$94,022±$18k 16% above U.S. |
$77,656±$9kLowest 4% below U.S. |
$92,120±$31k 14% above U.S. |
| Northfield and Warner 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. |
$409,400±$32kHighest 23% above U.S. |
| Sheffield 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. |
$1,837±$1kHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Sheffield 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. |
$4,520 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.2%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.7%±21.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
46.5%±23 U.S.: 51.1% |
29.2%±21.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Northfield and Warner 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.3% 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. |
1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 19% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 22% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.5%±10.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.6%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
3.6%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.5%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Warner and Northfield 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 | — | — | #250 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Pioneer Valley | Kearsarge Regional School District | Erving | Southern Berkshire |
| High school in town | Pioneer Valley Regional | None in town | None in town | Mt Everett Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Highest |
— | — | 7.8Lowest |
| 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.