Compare towns
Northfield vs Windsor vs Erving
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 most people working from home (16.5%).
Windsor has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.2%).
Erving has the youngest population (median age 43.3).
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.
| Measure | Northfield | Windsor | Erving |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,872 |
3,554Highest |
1,703Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.9±4.2Highest 26% above U.S. |
44.8±6.5 15% above U.S. |
43.3±2.4Lowest 11% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Windsor 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% |
29.7%±6.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Windsor 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% |
39.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
24.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.7%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Northfield and Erving 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. |
$52,484±$11kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$77,656±$9k 4% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $375,800±$31kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$207,500±$31kLowest 38% below U.S. |
$271,800±$20k 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,142±$200 19% below U.S. |
$1,026±$89Lowest 27% below U.S. |
$1,163±$213Highest 18% below U.S. |
| Erving and Northfield 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. |
$5,209Highest 67% above U.S. |
$1,870Lowest 40% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.2%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.5%±17Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.5%±23 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Northfield and Erving 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% |
7.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
57.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962Highest 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1945Lowest 35 yrs older than U.S. |
1957 23 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 19% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.5%±10.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.3%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
3.6%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Northfield and Windsor 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 | #61 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Pioneer Valley | — | Erving |
| High school in town | Pioneer Valley Regional | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.