Compare towns
Northfield vs Woonsocket 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 most people working from home (16.5%).
Woonsocket has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5%).
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 | Woonsocket | Erving | Sheffield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,872 |
43,521Highest |
1,703Lowest |
3,330 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5%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. |
35.7±1.3Lowest 8% below U.S. |
43.3±2.4 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% |
23.3%±2Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
13.3%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 25.5%±5.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.7%±1.4Lowest 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% |
19.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
24.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±4.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Woonsocket 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. |
$61,059±$5kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$77,656±$9k 4% below U.S. |
$92,120±$31k 14% above U.S. |
| Northfield and Sheffield 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. |
$311,000±$15k 7% below 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. |
$1,161±$48 18% below U.S. |
$1,163±$213 18% below U.S. |
$1,837±$1kHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Sheffield and Erving are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,594Highest 47% above U.S. |
$3,960 27% 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% |
46.7%±5.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
46.5%±23 U.S.: 51.1% |
29.2%±21.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Northfield and Woonsocket 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% |
18.7%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% |
37.2%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. |
1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1957 23 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 19% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 22% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.5%±10.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.4%±1.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
3.6%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.5%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Northfield and Sheffield 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 | #37 of 38 in RI | — | #250 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Pioneer Valley | RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket | Erving | Southern Berkshire |
| High school in town | Pioneer Valley Regional | Woonsocket High School | None in town | Mt Everett Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7 |
15.2Highest |
— | 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.