Greenfield
RANK #665 / 996 NAT · #6 / 12 MA · POP 70,980
1YR FORECAST: +0.7%
5YR OUTLOOK: +20%
Franklin County, Massachusetts, is defined by its rural character and natural scenery, with the Connecticut River bisecting its forested hills. Greenfield serves as the county seat and most populous community. The county is located in western Massachusetts, bordering New Hampshire and Vermont, and offers a commute to larger cities like Boston, approximately 45 minutes to 1.5 hours away by car, depending on traffic. Commuter rail options are also available from towns like Franklin to Boston's South Station. The area is known for outdoor recreation, including hiking, biking, canoeing, kayaking, and zip-lining, with attractions like the Bridge of Flowers in Shelburne Falls and Mount Sugarloaf providing scenic views.
Life in Franklin County often appeals to those seeking a balance of community and access to nature. The region's public schools include options like Four Rivers Charter Public School and Greenfield Public Schools. While some residents commute to nearby urban centers, the local economy is supported by sectors such as manufacturing and agriculture, with a focus on local food and beverage producers. Recent economic development efforts have focused on revitalizing downtown areas in towns like Northfield, Turners Falls, and Shelburne Falls, and expanding infrastructure to support job creation and housing.
Above national median (4.7x)
Contracting economy
Prices declining
Below-average climate & terrain
Below national median (13x)
Housing is fairly valued at 7.0x relative to local economic output. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.
Estimated local headcount ranges. Larger employers shown as floor + "+"; smaller employers show exact counts where reported.
Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →
Source: CDC/NCHS vital statistics via County Health Rankings (2020–2022 avg). Rates per 100,000 population. Grade based on homicide rate relative to national average (~6.3). Learn more →
Source: EPA Air Quality System (2021–2023). Grade based on 3-year average median AQI. Learn about AQI →
| PROJECT | AMOUNT | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
|
Wendell Battery Energy Storage System (105 MW)
Undisclosed
|
$105M | Proposed |
|
Community Solar Portfolio (Multiple Projects)
Various (e.g., Plankton Energy, Kearsarge Energy, Navisun LLC, FirstLight Power Resources, Inc. - MA)
|
$50M | Operating/Under Construction |
|
Maplegate Country Club Solar Redevelopment (30 MW)
NextGrid
|
$38M | Under Construction |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 996 counties.
At 33/100, Franklin County faces headwinds that place it in the lower third of the 996 counties we track. Median income of $70,383 combined with job growth of -1.9% suggests the local economy is struggling to keep pace with national trends.
Franklin County leans toward the expensive side. A median home value of $284,100 against an income-to-home-value ratio of 0.25 means housing eats a bigger share of local earnings than the national norm. Renters face $1,109/month on average.
Franklin County's job market is contracting (-1.9% YoY) while population is roughly stable (-0.1% change). Home values are -0.6% over the past 12 months. Hiring headwinds without an offsetting exodus — residents are staying, but local employers are shedding payroll.
There's a moderate stream of newcomers. About 3.11% of residents moved from another state, which is above average and suggests Franklin County has appeal as a relocation destination — though it's not among the highest-inflow counties nationally.