Compare towns
Northfield vs Whately vs Gill
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Northfield has the oldest housing (typical home built 1962).
Whately has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.4%).
Gill has the most kids (19% 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.
| Measure | Northfield | Whately | Gill |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,872Highest |
1,499Lowest |
1,740 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.9±4.2 22% above MA |
49.3±6.7Highest 23% above MA |
43.8±2.6Lowest 9% above MA |
| Whately 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% |
16.4%±3.8 MA: 19.4% |
19%±8.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Gill and Whately 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% |
24.5%±6.3 MA: 17.9% |
21.1%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Northfield and Whately 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% |
47.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
42.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±3 MA: 7.9% |
2.5%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
7.1%±2.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Gill 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 about the MA average |
$116,563±$15kHighest 12% above MA |
$90,208±$14kLowest 13% below MA |
| Whately 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 33% below MA |
$431,500±$22kHighest 23% below MA |
$340,100±$17kLowest 39% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,142±$200 35% below MA |
$977±$125Lowest 45% below MA |
$1,193±$246Highest 32% below MA |
| Gill and Northfield 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 |
$5,027Highest 16% below MA |
$4,318Lowest 28% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.2%±25.9 MA: 51.8% |
26.7%±29Lowest MA: 51.8% |
62.7%±10.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Gill 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 MA: 10% |
5.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.1% MA: 62.5% |
88.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
82.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA |
1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 8% above MA |
23 min 21% below MA |
21 minLowest 29% below MA |
| Work from home | 16.5%±10.3 MA: 18.6% |
20.4%±8.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
14.9%±8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Whately 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 | — | — |
| School district | Pioneer Valley | Whately | Gill-Montague |
| High school in town | Pioneer Valley Regional | 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 |
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.