Interstate 91 and Connecticut River connections in the Franklin County seat
Curved around the Connecticut River, Greenfield is a big city only in terms of comparison; fewer than 20,000 people live in this old-fashioned industry town in the rural, northern reaches of the Pioneer Valley. “Greenfield is a small, New England town that’s the center of 26 little towns called Franklin County,” says Donald Mailloux, a top producer at Coldwell Banker Community Realtors with 35 years of experience specializing in Franklin and Hampshire counties. “People are moving here for affordability – our price range is one of the lower ones in the state, a house could be a third to a half of what you’d pay for the same thing down the way. But I think the best thing in Greenfield is the quality of life.” Interstate 91 connects Greenfield to forests, farmland and the five higher education institutions of Hampshire County, but the city is more than a pit stop between northeastern college towns. In Greenfield, small businesses, county seat services, Connecticut River tributaries and cultural hubs mingle on and around Main Street, a tight network of small-town necessities centered between the vast, verdant hills and rambling river valleys that Western Massachusetts is known for.
The Main Street Historic District forms the civic heart of Greenfield, featuring a variety of shops, galleries, and restaurants that define the city's essence.
The Connecticut River breathes life into Greenfield, offering recreational opportunities and bridges that connect the city to neighboring towns.
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Greenfield’s industrial era streets and rural acreages
The industrial age built Greenfield, seen today in the many sidewalk-lined blocks of single-family homes built around Main Street, rivers and railroad tracks. Much of the housing dates to the early 20th century, characterized by closely packed National style homes, bungalows and Queen Annes sprawled on slightly larger lots. Plenty of older homes are also available, as well as simple ranch-style homes, colonials and Cape Cods built through the midcentury. Homes of many sizes and types sit on country roads farther from the city’s center, among the fields and pastures of Franklin County’s farmers. The median price of a single-family home in Greenfield is lower than the national median at around $330,000.
In Greenfield, you'll find traditional Colonial homes nestled along quiet, tree-lined streets.
Downtown Greenfield offers a variety of homes, including expansive Queen Anne Victorian residences on generous sunny lots.
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Shopping and dining on Main Street
Although Greenfield’s walkable, tree-lined Main Street is lined with the red brick buildings of an earlier age, it’s not without modern touches; Greenfield’s new library opened in 2023 and the old Wilson’s Department Store is being redeveloped into a mixed-use housing complex. Mosaics and painted sculptures of bees break up blocks of commercial buildings, the colorful markers of the city’s cultural district. Small galleries and event spaces host themed entertainment and live musicians throughout the year, as do plenty of the city’s locally owned bars and restaurants. Limited strip malls and big-box stores collect on the sections of state Routes 2 and 2a farther from town. Steeple-topped churches of many denominations and a single synagogue hold services throughout the city.
Greenfield residents enjoy the People’s Pint, a family-friendly brewpub that serves house-made drafts and classic pub fare, all with a unique, funky vibe.
The artistic community thrives in Greenfield at the LAVA Community Arts and Humanities space, where rotating gallery shows inspire the public.
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Recreation on the riverfront, atop Poet’s Seat Tower and in the Berkshires
The Berkshires are farther west, but resorts draw skiers to the highlands’ snowy slopes within 20 miles of Greenfield. Decades of post-industrial watershed recovery have turned the Connecticut River into a destination for boating, fishing and pedaling along waterside bike trails, and the city’s two integral tributaries also bring waterfront access through the center of Greenfield. Lifeguards are stationed at a swimming area on the Green River through the warmer months. Trout fishing is popular in the Deerfield River. Through the arches at the top of the historic Poet’s Seat Tower, visitors can look over the forested trails of Rocky Mountain Park, the athletic fields and courts at Beacon Field and out across the Pioneer Valley toward more distant ridges.
Greenfield’s residents are just a short drive from the breathtaking Wachusett Mountain, where skiers can bask in the beauty of its untouched, snow-draped slopes.
Through the arches at the top of the historic Poet's Seat Tower, visitors can take in breathtaking views of Greenfield and the stunning Pioneer Valley below.
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County fairs and community festivals in Greenfield
The warmer months bring about some of Greenfield’s most popular events, though the city holds parades and holiday celebrations throughout the year. Puns about buzziness aside, Bee Fest is among the most anticipated annual traditions, as much a commemoration of Greenfield’s pioneering 19th-century bee husbandry expert, Lorenzo Langstroth, as it is a celebration of modern artisans, pollinator gardeners and live musicians. The Franklin County Fairgrounds have hosted the county fair since the mid-1800s, as well as newer events like the Green River Music Festival.
Bee Fest is one of Greenfield's most anticipated annual traditions, with statues lining Main Street as locals prepare to celebrate.
Greenfield's Franklin County Fairgrounds have proudly hosted the county fair since the mid-1800s, preserving a cherished tradition for generations.
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Commuting on I-91 to the Five Colleges
Greenfield’s industrial age was powered by the rush of the Green and Deerfield rivers, but today, a different confluence is of greater import: the intersection of I-91 and state routes 2 and 2a. “The biggest thing is being close to the five colleges – Amherst, Smith, UMass, Hampshire College and Mount Holyoke College,” Mailloux says. Each of these Hampshire County institutions is less than 30 miles from Greenfield, as are plenty of Franklin County manufacturers. Both the Pioneer Valley and Franklin Regional transit authorities operate bus routes between universities and hubs like Greenfield’s community college and Baystate Franklin Medical Center. By way of Route 2, Boston is nearly 100 miles away; Amtrak trains departing from the John W. Olver Transit Center offer another way to the city. Bradley International Airport is nearly 60 miles away.
Attending Greenfield Public Schools and Greenfield Community College
Greenfield Public Schools earns a C from Niche. Stoneleigh-Burnham School is a private, all-girls institution that earns an A-plus, known for its speech and debate and equestrian programs. Greenfield Community College offers students the chance to earn associate degrees tuition-free as part of the statewide MassEducate and MassReconnect programs.
Stoneleigh-Burnham School, a distinguished private institution in Greenfield, MA, earns an A-plus for its exceptional speech and debate and equestrian programs.
Greenfield Community College provides students with the opportunity to earn associate degrees tuition-free, opening doors to higher education without financial barriers.
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Crime, weather and flood patterns in Greenfield
According to data from the Greenfield Police Department, crime in Greenfield rose 8.82% between 2022 and 2023. The resulting crime rate for that year was about 5,079 offenses per 100,000 people, higher than the statewide rate.
Greenfield experiences four seasons in a year, peaking in hot summers and below-freezing, snowy winters.
After especially heavy rain, roadways and properties nearest the Green and Deerfield rivers may flood. Buyers can consult maps to determine risk and the need for insurance.
After graduating from Smith College with a B.A. in Art, I began my real estate career in 2004. Having worked my way through college in the restaurant business, I developed my strengths in customer service and people skills, as well as built a strong connection to my community members. After college, I spent 10 years working as a Practice Manager in the medical field supporting providers, and problem solving on a daily basis. This work afforded me the opportunity to grow and gain confidence in my skills as a professional. It is in all this work that I found my passion for helping people. Working as a real estate professional affords me the opportunity to help my clients navigate their way through a successful real estate transaction, something I find very rewarding. Having been a Pioneer Valley resident my whole life, I now live in South Hadley, where my husband and I have built a home for the past 20 years. With strong family connections to the area, I love all that the Pioneer Valley has to offer, from its cultural and artistic diversity, to its varied scenic landscapes, to its broad sense of community. I enjoy giving back to my community through support and participation in organizations like the Western Mass Food Bank and Prospect Meadow Farms, which works to empower people with developmental challenges. In my spare time, my husband and I travel as much as we can, always eager to experience the cultures and culinary traditions of places far and wide. At home, I endeavor to “save the bees” as an assistant beekeeper to my husband at our small apiary (The Backyard Buzz). The work is often hard, occasionally painful, but the fruits of the labor are enjoyed by all.
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