The Town FilesNorthfield, Massachusetts
Town in Franklin County · population 2,866 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $375,800
- Household income
- $103,375
- Jan low / Jul high
- 15° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 55 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 14
- Median age
- 48.9
Northfield is a town of 2,866 people in Franklin County, Massachusetts. The median home is worth $375,800, below the typical Massachusetts town ($510,150). It ranks more of a college town than 82% of Massachusetts towns, quieter than 80% of Massachusetts towns, better for retirees than 70% of Massachusetts towns.
How Northfield ranks
Percentile among Massachusetts towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Massachusetts towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Northfield is worth $375,800, below the typical Massachusetts town ($510,150). Homes cost about 3.6 times the median household income of $103,375, which is more affordable than 88% of Massachusetts towns. Median rent is $1,142 a month. 85.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Northfield | Typical Massachusetts town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $375,800 | $510,150 |
| Median rent | $1,142 | $1,561 |
| Median household income | $103,375 | $108,622 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.6× | 4.5× |
| Homeownership | 85.1% | 80.7% |
| Median year built | 1962 | 1968 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.6% | — |
Who lives in Northfield
| People | Northfield | Typical Massachusetts town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 48.9 | 44.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 25.5% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 14.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 42.4% | 45.7% |
| Below the poverty line | 6.8% | 6.3% |
| Veterans | 5.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.6% | — |
| Work from home | 16.5% | 17.7% |
| Average commute | 31.4 min | 30.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 88.2% | 93.9% |
Weather in Northfield
July highs average 82.7°F and January lows 14.6°F. About 49.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 55.3 inches of snow (typical Massachusetts town: 49.5 in). Expect about 10 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 154 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
14 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Northfield since 1950, compared with 8 for the typical Massachusetts town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on July 11, 2006 about 9.2 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 11, 2006.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 22 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on August 17, 1970.
Severe weather in Franklin County since 1996
Franklin County has been included in 22 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 15, 2023 | Hurricane | EM-3599: Hurricane Lee |
| March 27, 2020 | Biological | DR-4496: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3438: Covid-19 |
| April 19, 2013 | Severe Storm | DR-4110: Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, And Flooding |
| October 28, 2012 | Hurricane | EM-3350: Hurricane Sandy |
Jobs and pay in Franklin County
Franklin County had 25,435 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $54,261 a year. Unemployment was 2.9% in 2023; in Northfield itself the ACS puts it at 4.6%.
Public schools in Northfield
2 public schools with 409 students, about 10.8 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pioneer Valley Regional | 7-12 | 241 | 10.5 |
| Northfield Elementary | PK-6 | 168 | 11.2 |
Towns near Northfield
- Turners Falls, MA7.6 mi · 4,512 people · home $246,700
- Winchester, NH8.3 mi · 4,150 people · home $242,900
- Greenfield, MA8.5 mi · 17,768 people · home $263,100
- Montague, MA8.9 mi · 8,580 people · home $282,100
- Hinsdale, NH9.5 mi · 3,948 people · home $200,700
- Orange, MA9.6 mi · 7,569 people · home $245,900
- Orange, MA9.6 mi · 3,636 people · home $231,400
- Athol, MA12.8 mi · 8,486 people · home $248,700
Northfield questions
Is Northfield, Massachusetts a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Northfield scores better for retirees than 70% of Massachusetts towns and quieter than 80%. 25.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 48.9).
How much does a house cost in Northfield?
The median owner-occupied home in Northfield is valued at $375,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $103,375, so homes cost about 3.6 times income. Median rent is $1,142 a month.
What is the weather like in Northfield?
July highs average 82.7°F and January lows 14.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 49.4 inches of precipitation a year and 55.3 inches of snow.
Does Northfield get tornadoes?
14 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Northfield since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on July 11, 2006. The typical Massachusetts town has had 8.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)