What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Webster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).

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	Webster
People
Population	2,872Lowest	17,748Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-5.5%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+6%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	48.9±4.2Highest 22% above MA	39.9±2.9Lowest about the MA average
Kids under 18	14.8%±4.1Lowest MA: 19.4%	19.6%±2.9Highest MA: 19.4%
	Webster 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 MA: 17.9%	19.6%±2.5Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Northfield and Webster 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 MA: 47.3%	25.3%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.4%±3Lowest MA: 7.9%	5.8%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9%
	Webster 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 about the MA average	$72,895±$6kLowest 30% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$375,800±$31kHighest 33% below MA	$361,500±$12kLowest 36% below MA
	Northfield and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,142±$200Lowest 35% below MA	$1,228±$81Highest 30% below MA
	Webster and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,594Highest 23% below MA	$3,999Lowest 33% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	49.2%±25.9Highest MA: 51.8%	45.7%±6.7Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Northfield and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.8%Lowest MA: 10%	12.7%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.1%Highest MA: 62.5%	59.8%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1962 2 yrs older than MA	1962 2 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 8% above MA	31 minLowest 5% above MA
Work from home	16.5%±10.3Highest MA: 18.6%	8%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Northfield and Webster 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	#271 of 282 in MA
School district	Pioneer Valley	Webster
High school in town	Pioneer Valley Regional	Bartlett High School
Students per teacherat that high school	10.7Lowest	11.6Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.