Compare towns
Northfield vs Worcester vs Erving
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 most people working from home (16.5%).
Worcester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.1%).
Erving has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
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 | Worcester | Erving |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,872 |
207,055Highest |
1,703Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5% MA: +7.4% |
+14.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-7.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.9±4.2Highest 22% above MA |
33.9±0.5Lowest 15% below MA |
43.3±2.4 8% above MA |
| Northfield and Erving 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% |
19.6%±0.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.3%±3.2 MA: 19.4% |
| Worcester 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% |
13.3%±0.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.6%±2.4 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% |
35.2% MA: 47.3% |
24.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±3 MA: 7.9% |
14.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.8%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $103,375±$10kHighest about the MA average |
$70,102±$2kLowest 33% below MA |
$77,656±$9k 25% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $375,800±$31kHighest 33% below MA |
$374,400±$7k 33% below MA |
$271,800±$20kLowest 52% below MA |
| Northfield and Worcester 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 |
$1,487±$38Highest 16% below MA |
$1,163±$213 34% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,594 23% below MA |
$4,733Highest 21% below MA |
$1,870Lowest 69% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.2%±25.9 MA: 51.8% |
54.2%±2.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
46.5%±23Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Worcester and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.8% MA: 10% |
19.6%Highest MA: 10% |
5.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
42.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
81.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962Highest 2 yrs older than MA |
1951Lowest 13 yrs older than MA |
1957 7 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 8% above MA |
24 minLowest 17% below MA |
28 min 4% below MA |
| Work from home | 16.5%±10.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
11.5%±1 MA: 18.6% |
3.6%±2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Northfield and Worcester 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 | #266 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Pioneer Valley | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | Erving |
| High school in town | Pioneer Valley Regional | South High Community | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Lowest |
14.6Highest |
— |
| 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.