Compare towns
Northfield vs Windsor vs Erving 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 population (median age 48.9).
Windsor has the most people working from home (21.2%).
Erving has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Gill has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.4%).
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 | Windsor | Erving | Gill |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,872Highest |
1,065Lowest |
1,703 |
1,740 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5% MA: +7.4% |
-7.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
-7.5% MA: +7.4% |
+3.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.9±4.2Highest 22% above MA |
44.8±6.4 12% above MA |
43.3±2.4Lowest 8% above MA |
43.8±2.6 9% above MA |
| Northfield and Windsor 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% |
15.8%±5.1 MA: 19.4% |
16.3%±3.2 MA: 19.4% |
19%±8.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Gill 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 MA: 17.9% |
18.6%±4.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.6%±2.4 MA: 17.9% |
21.1%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
| Northfield and Erving 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% |
41.5% MA: 47.3% |
24.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
42.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±3 MA: 7.9% |
2.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
2.8%±1.3 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 |
$115,563±$10kHighest 11% above MA |
$77,656±$9kLowest 25% below MA |
$90,208±$14k 13% below MA |
| Windsor 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 |
$389,700±$32kHighest 31% below MA |
$271,800±$20kLowest 52% below MA |
$340,100±$17k 39% below MA |
| Windsor 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 35% below MA |
— | $1,163±$213 34% below MA |
$1,193±$246Highest 32% below MA |
| Gill and Erving 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 |
$3,867 35% below MA |
$1,870Lowest 69% below MA |
$4,318 28% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.2%±25.9 MA: 51.8% |
0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
46.5%±23 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% |
3.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.2% MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.1% MA: 62.5% |
96.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
81.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
82.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962 2 yrs older than MA |
1970Highest 6 yrs newer than MA |
1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 8% above MA |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
28 min 4% below MA |
21 minLowest 29% below MA |
| Work from home | 16.5%±10.3 MA: 18.6% |
21.2%±5.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
3.6%±2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
14.9%±8 MA: 18.6% |
| Windsor 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 | — | Erving | 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 | 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.