What it's like to live in Greenfield
Greenfield is a small city in Massachusetts with rent below the national average, home prices that remain within reach, commutes that run shorter than most cities, and a highly educated workforce. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Greenfield deals with household incomes below the national average, crime rates above the national average, a rent burden that leaves many renters stretched thin, and cold, harsh winters.
The good
- Rent below the national average
- Affordable home prices
- Short commutes
- Highly educated workforce
- Low student-teacher ratio
The not so good
- Below-average household incomes
- Crime above national average
- High rent burden for renters
- Cold, harsh winters
- Snowy winters — 46" per year
- Smaller place — fewer dining and entertainment options
How Greenfield compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Greenfield
Based on Greenfield's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$2,214
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $44,280 a year
- 61% of Greenfield renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$52,620
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $26,310
- Homes cost 4.7× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▼ 22% below US
$1,107/mo median rent
Cost of living works in this city's favor. Median rent sits around $1,107 a month, nothing that raises eyebrows. Solid value overall. Home prices are reasonable, with a median around $263,100. Not a steal, but not intimidating either.
Median home value $263,100 · 61% of renters cost-burdened
Job marketNear US average
4.6% unemployment
Unemployment here is 4.6%, close to the national average of 4.3%.
City-level (BLS)
Safety▲ 41% above US
464 violent crimes per 100k
Crime is worth weighing seriously here. Rates run above the national average, and while plenty of residents live comfortably, neighborhood selection matters a lot more than it does in a safer city.
Property crime 1627/100k · Greenfield Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▼ 33% below US
17 min average commute
Commutes run short here, averaging 17.4 minutes. That's an underrated perk of living in a smaller or well-planned city, where time isn't lost sitting in traffic. 8 in 10 workers drive to work; 12% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are warm, with highs around 81°F, and winters are cold and harsh, with lows dropping to 16°F. Rainfall is regular throughout the year.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Healthcare
1 hospital
There's one Medicare-certified hospital inside city limits, rated 3.0 out of 5 by Medicare. Hospitals in neighboring towns aren't counted here.
Medicare-certified hospitals
Education & workforceNear US average
39% bachelor's degree or higher
Education levels run about average, with 39% college-educated. It's a mix of white-collar and blue-collar work, which can be an asset or a limitation depending on the field.
Schools
8 public schools inside the boundary
There are 8 public schools inside the boundary and 2 private schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13:1, well below the national average of 16:1. Smaller class sizes are generally a positive sign for a district.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is New England National Scenic Trail (23 miles away). There are 8 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Greenfield's strongest points are rent below the national average and home prices that remain within reach; the main tradeoffs are household incomes below the national average and crime rates above the national average. A year of median rent ($1,107/mo) equals 24% of the median household income here, more than the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit people watching their budget and people who want short commutes. It may be a harder fit for anyone who doesn't drive and anyone who dislikes long, cold winters.
See all the data for Greenfield →·All Massachusetts cities →
Other places near Greenfield
All Massachusetts guides →Moving to Amherst Town →
18 mi away · pop. 38,182
Rent $1,671/mo · Income $66,968
Compare with Greenfield →Moving to Northampton →
20 mi away · pop. 30,962
Rent $1,439/mo · Income $80,288
Compare with Greenfield →Moving to Easthampton Town →
24 mi away · pop. 16,086
Rent $1,292/mo · Income $71,673
Compare with Greenfield →Not sure Greenfield is the one?
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