What stands out worked out from the figures below

Northfield has the oldest population (median age 62.1).

Somerville has the most kids (28.8% 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Northfield	Somerville
People
Population	263Lowest	837Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	+9.5% ME: +2.6%
Median age	62.1±16.2Highest 39% above ME	33.5±11.3Lowest 25% below ME
Kids under 18	11.4%±7.8Lowest ME: 18.1%	28.8%±7Highest ME: 18.1%
Age 65+	39.2%±9.2Highest ME: 22.4%	13.7%±2.9Lowest ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	40.4%Highest ME: 36.2%	25.7%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.5%±4.4Lowest ME: 5.8%	1.8%±1.7Highest ME: 5.8%
	Somerville and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$68,333±$52kLowest 9% below ME	$71,250±$15kHighest 5% below ME
	Somerville and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$198,600±$64kLowest 33% below ME	$218,100±$41kHighest 26% below ME
	Somerville and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$1,583±$265 39% above ME
Property taxmedian, yearly	$1,773Lowest 42% below ME	$2,505Highest 17% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	—	65.7%±58.5 ME: 48.4%
Below poverty line	20.5%Highest ME: 10.7%	17%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88.9%Highest ME: 74.3%	85.8%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1975Lowest 2 yrs older than ME	1989Highest 12 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest about the ME average	27 minHighest 9% above ME
Work from home	3.2%±2.6Lowest ME: 15.9%	3.9%±2.3Highest ME: 15.9%
	Somerville and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	—	RSU 12
High school in town	—	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

ME 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.