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Living in
Greenfield.
About
Life in Greenfield
Living in Greenfield means settling into a working county seat where about 17,700 people actually call home—no pretense, just a real community built on 330+ years of history. You'll find yourself in a place with real seasons—humid summers averaging in the low 70s and cold, snowy winters—so if you hate extreme weather swings, this is worth thinking through, though the abundant rainfall means everything stays green. The town has character: a historic Main Street lined with Federal and Victorian architecture, a real cultural life including the Green River Festival and Pioneer Valley Symphony, and a surprising amount of local spirit (they've literally painted nine giant bee sculptures around town celebrating their beekeeping heritage).
Greenfield at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
44.6 yrs
Poverty Rate
15.2%
Foreign-Born
6.5%
Broadband Internet
91.3%
of households
Population Growth
-0.4%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics6.5% foreign-born, most often from Moldova
Who lives in Greenfield: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Greenfield, the largest foreign-born group is from Moldova (16.6%), and 3.2% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
18.3%
of residents
65 and Older
23.4%
of residents
Households with Kids
25.0%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
38.1%
of households
Married Couples
34.4%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.07
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 37% below MA average
Rent, home values, and income in Greenfield
In Greenfield, rent runs 37% below the MA average, and home values are 53% below the MA average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
60.6%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
35.0%
spending 50%+
Median Property Tax
$4,769
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
55.7%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1947
median year built
Vacant Homes
6.2%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $333,099 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for MA
Unemployment in Greenfield
Unemployment in Greenfield is close to the MA average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Greenfield Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute17.4 min avg
How Greenfield residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Greenfield, most residents drive alone to work (70%), and 77% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 43 mi
Worcester Regional Airport (ORH)
Regional airport · few flights106k passengers boarded in 2025
- 45 mi
Bradley International Airport (BDL)
Medium hub3.3M passengers boarded in 2025
- 82 mi
Boston Logan International Airport (BOS)
Major hub21.0M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 41% above national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Greenfield runs 41% above the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
464
per 100,000 residents
Above average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,626.9
per 100,000 residents
About average (1,552 national, 2025)
Greenfield Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 11 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Low
60.7 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Franklin County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Franklin County, which includes Greenfield, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 11 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 11 | Thunderstorm Wind | $12,600 |
| 2024 | 14 | Thunderstorm Wind | $15,300 |
| 2023 | 12 | Thunderstorm Wind | $40,500 |
| 2022 | 10 | Thunderstorm Wind | $171,400 |
| 2021 | 18 | Thunderstorm Wind | $91,700 |
| 2020 | 22 | Thunderstorm Wind | $205,400 |
| 2019 | 19 | Thunderstorm Wind | $85,200 |
| 2018 | 19 | Winter Storm | $221,700 |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
0 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Franklin County, county-wide
Air Quality38 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Franklin County, which includes Greenfield, is typically good — 280 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
38
Good Days
280
per year
Moderate Days
81
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Franklin County, county-wide
Climate81°F summers, 16°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Greenfield has warm summers (avg high 81°F) and very cold winters (avg low 16°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
58°/34°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
81°/57°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
62°/39°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
37°/16°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
49.4"
Annual Snowfall
45.7"
Hot Days/Year
10
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
154
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
141
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 33°F | 15°F | 3.52" |
| Feb | 37°F | 14°F | 3.09" |
| Mar | 45°F | 23°F | 3.93" |
| Apr | 59°F | 34°F | 3.80" |
| May | 70°F | 45°F | 3.98" |
| Jun | 78°F | 54°F | 4.84" |
| Jul | 83°F | 59°F | 4.06" |
| Aug | 81°F | 57°F | 4.67" |
| Sep | 74°F | 50°F | 4.24" |
| Oct | 62°F | 39°F | 4.73" |
| Nov | 50°F | 29°F | 3.80" |
| Dec | 40°F | 21°F | 4.73" |
Healthcare1 hospital, avg 3.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Greenfield
Greenfield has 1 hospital, averaging 3.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
1.7%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
3.0 / 5
Baystate Franklin Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education12.8:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Greenfield
Greenfield's student/teacher ratio is 12.8:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 39.1% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
8
within city limits
Private Schools
2
within city limits
College Degree Rate
39.1%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
12.8:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges & Universities in Greenfield
Public · 2-year · 1,395 students · in-state tuition $5,906 · 34% graduate · median earnings $47,015 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: New England National Scenic Trail, 23 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Greenfield
Greenfield has 8 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being New England National Scenic Trail (23 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
New England National Scenic Trail
National Scenic Trail
23 mi awayColtsville National Historical Park
National Historical Park
32 mi awaySpringfield Armory National Historic Site
National Historic Site
35 mi awayMartin Van Buren National Historic Site
National Historic Site
59 mi awaySaratoga National Historical Park
National Historical Park
59 mi awaySaint-Gaudens National Historical Park
National Historical Park
62 mi awayLowell National Historical Park
National Historical Park
65 mi awayMinute Man National Historical Park
National Historical Park
67 mi awayPublic Libraries in Greenfield
Greenfield Public Library
412 Main St., Greenfield
Cities Near Greenfield
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Greenfield?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Greenfield FAQ
Is Greenfield, Massachusetts affordable?⌄
Greenfield's median rent is $1,107/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $55,614/year. Median home value is $263,100.
Is Greenfield, Massachusetts safe?⌄
Greenfield's violent crime rate was 464 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is above the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1627 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Greenfield, Massachusetts?⌄
Greenfield has an unemployment rate of 4.6%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Greenfield, Massachusetts?⌄
The cost of living in Greenfield is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,107/month and median household income is $55,614/year. The median home value is $263,100. About 61% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Greenfield, Massachusetts?⌄
The average commute in Greenfield is 17 minutes, which is shorter than average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from