Northfield is a rural Pioneer Valley town near the Connecticut River
The Connecticut River winds through Northfield, a rural town offering a slower pace of life along Massachusetts's northern border. “It’s just New England at its best,” says Cathy Roberts, a Realtor with Cohn & Company Real Estate who specializes in the Franklin County area. “People move here because they’re trying to get away from the bright lights and slow down a little bit, which is something they can do in Northfield.” The town embraces that tranquility in the verdant Pioneer Valley, a region known for its vast farmland and recreational opportunities on the river.
In classic New England style, Northfield also has a quaint Main Street community with a handful of local businesses. “That’s one of the things I find most endearing about Northfield. It has a spectacular Main Street of beautiful old homes, and it’s almost like walking into a Norman Rockwell town,” Roberts says. Fewer than 3,000 people live in Northfield, and its overall CAP Index Crime Score is 1 out of 10, the lowest possible score and significantly lower than the national average of 4.
Activities range from fishing and boating to hiking and cycling
Outdoor recreation revolves around the Connecticut River. “Northfield is one of the only towns around here that borders the river on both sides, so you have access to all kinds of fishing and boating,” Roberts says. Waterfront green spaces include the scenic Riverview Picnic Area and the Pauchaug Brook Wildlife Management Area, which features a public boat ramp near the historic Schell Bridge.
Hikers and dog walkers frequent conservation areas like the Northfield State Forest, where miles of shaded trails weave through the town’s natural landscapes. FirstLight Power maintains 26 miles of multi-use trails at the Northfield Mountain Recreation and Environmental Center, where hikers gather during warmer months and cross-country skiers explore during snowy winters. While it's best known as a four-season destination for outdoor recreation, the mountain is also home to FirstLight’s flagship facility, the biggest energy storage space in New England. For cyclists, portions of the 240-mile-long Franklin County Bikeway pass through Northfield. Golfers can play a round at the Northfield Golf Club, a public 9-hole course in the center of town.
A few Main Street staples, with more options in nearby Greenfield
Northfield has a handful of shops and restaurants on Main Street. Mim’s Market is an old-fashioned general store selling grocery essentials, and it also has a deli counter where residents can order sandwiches. Next to the market is Northfield Creamie, a walk-up window ice cream shop known for its maple syrup soft serve. There are also several houses of worship on Main Street, including the Trinitarian Congregational Church and Northfield Baptist Church. Dickinson Memorial Library rounds out the scene with educational and recreational programs for all ages.
Residents typically do most of their shopping and dining in Greenfield, less than 15 miles away. For the necessities, there are stores like Home Depot, Aldi, and Stop & Shop. Restaurants range from fast-food chains such as Wendy’s to local mainstays like Village Pizza. Just north of town is the Northfield Drive-In Theatre, where locals have been watching movies beneath the stars for over 75 years.
Historic homes and wooded cottages mix with ranches and farmhouses
Northfield’s oldest homes are on Main Street. These 19th-century Colonial Revival, Federal and Victorian-style homes bring a sense of historic charm to the town and its quaint business district. In Northfield’s northeastern corner, Rustic Ridge features a collection of seasonal and year-round cottages with wooded lots in the foothills of Notch Mountain. The rest of the town embraces a wide variety of architectural styles. Sprawling farmhouses and ranch-style homes are the norm, although there are a few custom-built properties and log cabin-inspired houses in the mix. Many properties have several acres of land, and some offer enough acreage for a small homestead. Home prices typically range from $190,000 for smaller cottages to $600,000 for country estates with significant acreage.
Public schools and the Northfield Mount Hermon boarding school
The Pioneer Valley Regional School District serves the community and has a lower-than-average student-teacher ratio of 11-to-1. Northfield Elementary School covers prekindergarten through sixth grade, and Pioneer Valley Regional School serves seventh through 12th grade. Both schools earn a C from Niche. Course offerings at the Pioneer Valley Regional School include the Environmental Innovation Career Pathway Program, which allows students to gain hands-on experience in environmental science, ecology and sustainability.
Northfield is the birthplace of Dwight Lyman Moody, a prominent 19th-century evangelist and founder of the Northfield Seminary for Young Women and the Mount Hermon School for Boys. The two schools consolidated in 2005 and are now known as Northfield Mount Hermon (NMH), a co-educational and private college-preparatory school in the neighboring town of Gill. It serves ninth through 12th grade and offers boarding and day student options. The former site of the Northfield Seminary for Young Women is now home to the New England campus of Thomas Aquinas College.
Farmers market, roadside shops and craft drinks highlight local flavor
The town’s agricultural community is on display at the Northfield Farmers Market, which takes place on Thursday afternoons from May through October. It features a rotating selection of artisanal crafts and seasonal produce from vendors like Coyote Hill Farm. Residents can also buy fresh fruits, veggies and flowers from the roadside shop at Rock Ridge Farm. More local flavors are on display at Cameron’s Winery and Cidery, where offerings range from caramel apple wine to maple cider. The Brewery at Four Star Farms grows its own hops and grains alongside the Connecticut River, with a rustic outdoor patio where locals can enjoy the view while sampling handcrafted beers.
A Pioneer Valley town near I-91 and Amtrak’s Greenfield Station
Northfield is a heavily car-dependent area. Massachusetts Route 10 is the town’s main thoroughfare, crossing over the Connecticut River to Interstate 91. Bigger cities like Springfield and Worcester are about 50 miles from Northfield, and residents are also 50 miles from Worcester Regional Airport. While the town lacks public transportation, it’s less than 15 miles from Greenfield’s John W. Olver Transit Center, where Amtrak’s Valley Flyer and Vermonter lines provide daily train service throughout the Pioneer Valley and beyond. The closest hospital, Athol Hospital, is about 20 miles away.
Written By
Sally Stimpson
